Gangs, crime, traffic congestion, taxes, education and accountability of public officials are the most pressing issues in Salt Lake County, according to a survey released Friday.
The survey also found that 64 percent of county residents think they're getting their money's worth from county government, while 35 percent think they're not.Conducted by Dan Jones & Associates, the "Citizen Priority Study" was commissioned by the county to track public attitudes about government services. Six hundred registered voters were interviewed from Oct. 19-23, giving the poll a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent.
Commissioners said they intend to use the poll as a guide as they develop budget priorities, form policy and administer programs for the more than 850,000 county residents.
"Our purpose was to determine if our policies and agenda are in tune with the attitudes of the people," said Commission Chairman Jim Bradley. He noted that the poll was third conducted by the county since 1982, giving it the added value of "tracking" opinions.
The survey results were put to use immediately Friday, when Sheriff Aaron Kennard used them as ammunition in his budget request to commissioners. Other departments are expected to tap the poll for support as well in upcoming budget sessions.
Dan Jones said the multiple polling provides public officials with a valuable tool. "It's difficult to know what the governed want if you don't go out and ask them in a scientific survey," he said.
Following are the major findings of the survey:
- On a scale of 1 to 7, gangs and juvenile crime were rated as the most pressing issue: 6.57; adult crime, 6; accountability of public officials, 5.97; taxation, 5.5; human services, 5.36; and environmental issues, 5.
- 59 percent believe traffic congestion is a major problem; 34 percent say it's a minor problem.
- 50 percent would strongly or somewhat favor a 1/4-percent sales tax increase for an expanded public transit system - without light rail - and 60 percent would go along with light rail if didn't require a tax hike.
- 78 percent strongly or somewhat favor a smoking ban in public buildings.
- 53 percent feel the county is definitely or probably not doing enough to fight crime.
- 79 percent would definitely or probably be willing to pay higher taxes if the money went directly in to crime fighting programs.
- 82 percent strongly or somewhat favor the construction of more juvenile detention facilities.
- 86 percent favor a five-day waiting period for the purchase of guns by juveniles, with only 7 percent strongly opposed. Almost the same number, 82 percent, favor a waiting period for all gun buyers regardless of age.
- 71 percent think there are enough public parks in the county.
- 64 percent are somewhat or very worried about the availability of water within the next five years, with the number rising to 80 percent concerned about the next 20 years.
- 35 percent strongly favor mandatory curbside recycling with a monthly fee; 24 percent strongly oppose it.
- 76 percent have a somewhat or very favorable perception of county employees, with only 5 percent giving workers a very unfavorable rating.
- 45 percent strongly or somewhat oppose eliminating the unincorporated areas, while 37 percent favor it and 18 percent don't know.
- 31 percent said they are about as well as off as they were five years ago; 26 percent, somewhat better off; 22 percent, much better off; 13 percent, worse off; and 6 percent, much worse off.
- 51 percent say the image of the Salt Lake area has improved over the past five years.
- 31 percent feel county services are unfairly and unevenly distributed, but 47 percent say they are balanced. Of respondents, 8 percent said they are unbalanced, but deservedly so.
- 55 percent strongly or somewhat oppose government subsidies for the arts.