navajo county citizen survey 2008 presentation to the navajo county board of supervisors september...

Navajo County Citizen Survey 2008

Presentation to the Navajo County Board of Supervisors

September 2, 2008

James Bowie


Telephone survey

• 600 randomly-selected Navajo County adults

• April 25 to May 7

• +/- 4 percent margin of error


Focus Groups

• Show Low, August 19

• Holbrook, August 20

• Two-and-a-half hours each


Are things in Navajo County heading in the right direction, or are they on the wrong track?

Don't know38%

Wrong Track20%

Right Direction

42%


Has Navajo County become a better or worse place to live since you’ve lived here?

Stayed the same61%

Don't know2%

Worse16%

Better 21%

Both better and worse 1%


3%6%

12%

54%

26%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Very satisfied Somewhatsatisfied

Somewhatdissatisfied

Verydissatisfied

Don't know

Satisfaction with life in Navajo County


Most-liked aspects of life in Navajo County

11%

12%

13%

15%

18%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%

People/Community

Physical beauty

Open spaces

Climate

Small-town life


Least-liked aspects of life in Navajo County

6%

6%

6%

13%

14%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%

Lack ofhealthcare

Lack ofshopping

Lack of jobs

Drugs / Crime

Nothing


Focus groups on Navajo County quality of life

Show Low

• This is the “best-kept secret” in Arizona

• Slower pace of life, safety, privacy, family

• But they fear that the secret is getting out

• Growth, traffic, forest use

• “Growth is inevitable, and I hope that people do get a chance to get up and enjoy this area, but I hope we don’t destroy the appearance and feel of the mountain up here. That’s what we’re all here for. If we can control that growth so that it is still beautiful, we’re all going to benefit.”


Focus groups on Navajo County quality of life

Holbrook

• Wide-open spaces, small-town life, polite people

• Live here by choice, wouldn’t live anywhere else

• “The diversity of the people is a compelling point. It still has the sense of safety and lack of gangs, and yet a wide variety of people… Holbrook is a good example. My children can go to school with kids from all different backgrounds and it is enriching.”

• Lack of retail options is seen as a problem


Evaluation of County Services

8%

9%

19%

15%

13%

16%

32%

36%

31%

38%

44%

42%

35%

26%

20%

24%

24%

22%

28%

22%

27%

26%

12%

10%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Planning andZoning

Roads

Sheriff

Animal Control

HealthDepartment

County CourtSystem

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor


Overall Evaluation of Navajo County Services

Don't know7%

Poor13%

Excellent 4%

Good 39%

Fair37%


How citizens receive information about County services and programs

(multiple-response)

6%

7%

8%

12%

16%

20%

53%

0% 20% 40% 60%

TV

Internet

Don't receive any

Radio

Mail

Word of mouth

Newspaper


Focus groups on Navajo County services

• Concern with roads, traffic (Show Low)


Crime victimization in past year

No, not victimized

84%Yes,

victimized 16%


Do you feel safe outdoors in your neighborhood at night?

Don't know, 2%

No 17%

Yes 80%


Has the County crime rate increased during the past five years?

Stayed the same, 15%

Decreased 3%

Increased 76%

Don't know6%


Focus groups on Navajo County public safety

• Residents feel very safe

• Concern with drugs, particularly meth

• Concern with crimes committed by illegal immigrants


Would you support a plan to increase the County sales tax to fund the jail?

Depends, 8%

No21%

Yes65%

Don't know6%


Why would you support raising the sales tax to fund the jail?

4%

11%

28%

47%

0% 25% 50%

Current facilities are too faraway

Current facilities needimprovement

Crime up, jail overcrowded

Jail funding is a necessity


Why would you oppose raising the sales tax to fund the jail?

6%

6%

7%

8%

9%

14%

37%

0% 20% 40%

Inmates do not deserve more funding

Economy is bad, can't afford new taxes

Funding should come from elsewhere

More jail funding is not a necessity

Current tax money is not spent well

Negative view of jail/justice system

Opposed to tax increases in general


Support for varying levels of sales tax increases

30%

41%

63%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

One-half cent

One-third cent

One-quartercent


Message Testing

43%

28%

36%

17%

23%

28%

37%

39%

4%

10%

6%30%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

"Without this sales taxincrease, criminals may

have to be released earlyfrom jail"

"Without this taxincrease, crucial countyprograms will have to be

cut"

"Maintaining an adequatejail is vital to public safety

in the county"

Much more likelyto support

Somewhat morelikely to support

No difference

Don't know


Focus groups on jail and tax increase

Show Low

• Jail is seen as overcrowded and ineffective

• Most would support a tax increase for the jail, but would like more specific information

• “If this did happen, we would need to know where this money is going, really… I want to be able to come to them and say ‘You show me where this money is going.’ Too many times, there’s a tax or money being asked of us and it’s like ‘oops, nothing happens.’”


Focus groups on jail and tax increase

Holbrook

• Jail facilities are seen as adequate; criticism of operation of jail

• Little support for tax increase


Is traffic in your area getting worse?

Staying the same, 43%

Getting better 6%

Getting worse 49%

Don't know2%


Where in Navajo County is traffic congestion the worst?

7%

7%

15%

32%

33%

0% 25% 50%

All of the above

Residentialstreets

Regional roads

Main arterialstreets

State highways


Which measures would you support in order to relieve traffic in Navajo County?

10%

37%

43%

50%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

None of these

Building new roads

Developing public transportation

Widening existing roads


Focus groups on 4-day workweek for county offices

• Idea is generally viewed positively

• Energy savings

• Longer hours make it easier to visit county offices

• Possible drawbacks:

• Critical services would still need to be available

• Effect on county employees with children (school, daycare schedules)


Thank you!

[email protected] (928) 523-1752

navajo county citizen survey 2008 presentation to the navajo county board of supervisors september...

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