The Utah League of Cities and Towns might know more about what the state's residents are thinking than Utahns know themselves.

No, the quasi-governmental entity hasn't been tapping phone lines or spying on your neighbors. But it has been asking a lot of questions - 101, to be exact.The league, a nonprofit training and lobbying group with membership from nearly all of the state's 229 cities and towns, is gradually releasing results of a massive statewide opinion poll conducted in April by Dan Jones and Associates. The survey, which probed the thoughts of 815 Utahns, asked questions ranging from general queries about the quality of life to specific inquiries about tax increases and municipal financing.

The league already knew or suspected much of what it discovered, according to Executive Director Ken Bullock. But those responses were reassuring because they let the league

know that many of its hunches, positions and public policy goals are on the right track.

"We've known for a long time internally, as city officials, that these are the issues," Bullock said of the 101 questions the league asked. "We wanted to understand why residents weren't passing (certain ballot issues), why legislators weren't being responsive to our requests. And we wanted a better understanding of what people's perceptions were of their local officials."

In general, a majority of Utahns told pollsters that they feel the quality of life here has either improved or remained the same.

More people listed growth as the most important issue facing Utah. Seventy percent of those surveyed said the state government is doing a good or excellent job while 59 percent said the same about their local municipal governments.

When asked what type of governmental meetings they have participated in during the past two years, more residents said city and town council meetings than city, county or state meetings. More residents said they have more influence at the municipal level than at the county or state levels.

When asked how they thought the Legislature could best help their communities, 35 percent said they didn't know. But 17 percent said better communication was needed, 10 percent said the Legislature should "leave cities alone," 7 percent said the state

should provide more funding and another 7 percent said the state should help meet individual needs.

"They're satisfied with their local communities and feel like (local officials are) responsive," said JoAnn Seghini, first vice president of the league and a Midvale councilwoman. "But they see we have statewide problems that have to be solved on a statewide basis and unless there is better communication between communities and counties and with the state, the problems are only going to get worse."

Thirty-five percent of respondents said they believe the state is more capable of planning for growth than other governments.

The league asked a number of questions aimed at particular policy issues, some of which were released to The Deseret News.

One question referred to Gov. Mike Leavitt's campaign against federal mandates on state government. Residents were asked if the same policy should apply to state mandates on local governments. A full 72 percent answered "definitely" or "probably."

Sixty-nine percent of those surveyed said they would definitely or probably support a local tax increase if the revenue was tied to a specific service or enhancement. Eighty percent said they'd likely support such a tax hike to fund public safety or road construction. Sixty-four percent said they'd probably support the same increase if the revenues were used to preserve open space.

Seghini said results of the survey have been made available to all state legislators as well as county, city and town officials across the state.

"What we're going to do is (release some) of the questions throughout the year with news stories that will help people understand not only how folks responded but to clear up misunderstandings based on the responses," she said. "This (poll) is not just a way to measure attitude but a way to plan communication and education from government to the people."

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Utah League of Cities and Towns

Generally, would you say the quality of life where you live is. . .

STATEWIDE SALT LAKE COUNTY

GETTING BETTER 24% 21%

GETTING WORSE 36% 39%

ABOUT THE SAME 38% 38%

DON'T KNOW 2% 2%

What are the most important issues facing the state of Utah?

GROWTH* 32% 30%

CRIME** 21% 28%

EDUCATION 15% 13%

DON'T KNOW 9% 6%

OTHER 23% 23%

* including transportation

** including violence and gangs

How would you rate Utah state government?

EXCELLENT 15% 11%

GOOD 55% 57%

FAIR 24% 24%

POOR 6% 8%

DON'T KNOW 1% 0%

How would you rate municipal government where you reside?

EXCELLENT 10% 8%

GOOD 49% 46%

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FAIR 30% 30%

POOR 8% 9%

DON'T KNOW 4% 7%

Poll conducted April 1996, 815 Utah residents. Margin of error +/-3.5% statewide, +/-7% in Salt Lake County. Survey conducted by Dan Jones & Associates. 1996 Deseret News.

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