2021 SARASOTA COUNTY CITIZEN OPINION SURVEY RESULTS
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
2021 SARASOTA
COUNTY CITIZEN
OPINION SURVEY
RESULTS
30th Annual Citizen Satisfaction Survey
Purpose
• Trend data over three decades, support decision making,
gauge sentiment of residents
Introduction Introduced rotational question design in 2020
• Allows for specialty questions each year while maintaining
long-term trending
• 2021 rotating questions focused on safety and community
2021 Specialty questions covered
• COVID-19 assistance programs and vaccination, County
policies and surtax, and Septic tanksRoles and Responsibilities
Sarasota HCP
USF
County Associates
Project liaison to Survey design
Sarasota County
Project direction Data collection
Professor collaborates
with HCP on analysis Analysis
Students involved gain Reporting
first-hand experience
Questionnaire input Presentation creation
and approval
Presenting alongside
HCP PresentingStudy and Presentation Overview
Resident
Satisfaction
Stressors
2021
Demographics Study Themes Conclusion
Methodology
Citizen
Recommendations
Policy
AmbiguityMethodology
Sample size
• n=1,250
• Second study with sample increase
Margin of Error
• ±2.77% for county at-large
Calls
• In field 6/9/21 - 8/24/21
• Average call duration: 15 minutes
The sample reflects Sarasota County’s demographics
• Sample controlled for: age, gender, race, location, and education levels of the countyLocation of Respondents
University Parkway to Clark Road
37%
Longboat Key
Clark Road to Blackburn Point Road
12%
Sarasota City 13%
River Road to the South County Line
1%
Venice 5%
North Port 13% Blackburn Point Road to River Road
18%RESIDENT SATISFACTION
Quality of life
How would you rate the overall quality of life in Trend: How would you rate the overall quality of life in
Sarasota County? Sarasota County?
60% 2006 – 2021
55%
70%
50%
60%
55%
42%
50%
40%
42%
40%
30%
30%
20% 20%
10%
10%
2%
0% 1%
2%
0.2% 1% 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
0%
Poor Fair Good Excellent DK/NA/Refused Excellent Good Fair Poor DK/NA/RefusedSatisfaction with Services
Please tell me how satisfied you are with most Trend: Please tell me if you are very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat
of the many services provided by Sarasota dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied with most of the many services provided by
Sarasota County government today, excluding the School Board.
County government today, excluding the school
1998 - 2021
board.
80%
60%
55%
70%
50%
60%
41% 55%
50%
40%
40% 41%
30%
30%
20% 20%
2%
10%
1%
10%
0% 0.2%
2% 1998 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
0.2% 1%
0% Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Somewhat dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied Somewhat Somewhat Very satisfied DK/NA/Refused
dissatisfied satisfied Very dissatisfied DK/NA/RefusedRecommending Sarasota County
Would you recommend Sarasota County to a friend, family member, or acquantance, as a place to:
80%
74%
71%
70% 67% 67%
64%
60%
54%
50%
40%
31%
28% 29% 29%
30%
23% 23%
20%
14%
10%
3% 4% 3%
3%
1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1% 2% 1% 1% 2%
0%
Live Raise children Work Open a business Retire Vacation
Definitely not Probably not Maybe Probably DefinitelyRecommending Sarasota County Trend
Trend: Would recommend Sarasota County to a friend, family member or acquaintance, as a place to:
2019 – 2021
120%
100% 95% 95% 95% 96%
94% 93% 94%
90% 91% 92%
88% 88% 89%
84% 83%
80%
73%
67% 67%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Open a business Work Raise children Live Vacation Retire
2019 2020 2021Trust in Government
How much of the time do you think you can trust _____to do what is right for Sarasota County residents?
80%
74% 75%
70%
64%
60%
51%
50%
40%
31%
30%
20% 19%
20% 16%
14% 14%
10% 8%
5%
3% 3%
1% 1%
0%
Federal Government State Government Sarasota County Government Your City Government*
Never Only some of the time Most of the time Almost always
*Note: Trust in “Your City Government” is only calculated for those residing in a cityTrust in Government Trend
Trend: Trust in Government “Most of the Time” or “Almost Always”
2011 - 2021
100%
90% 90%
80%
77%
70%
66%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Federal Government State Government Sarasota County GovernmentContacting Sarasota County
Over the past year, have you To those that contacted the county: What service To those that contacted the
contacted any county office or did you contact the county about? county: By what means did you
official for service or to get contact the county?
Garbage collection 21%
information?
Permitting 14%
Recycling 11% Phone 80%
2%
Water 11%
14% Wastewater 10%
In-person 15%
Roads, signs, and street lights 9%
Human resources 9%
Contact center 7%
Email 5%
Health department 7%
Stormwater 6%
Building inspections 5% Social media 1%
84% Libraries 4%
Parks 2%
Mass transit 2% SeeClickFix (App) 0%
Other 8%
Yes No DK/NA/Refused 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%Contacting Sarasota County (Cont’d)
In your interactions with the county, were you _____? Trend: Experiences in Contacting County Offices/Officials
1998 - 2021
96%
0.4% 100%
93%
90%
Treated with respect 96% 4% 89%
80%
70%
60%
Given correct information 93% 5% 2% 50%
40%
30%
20%
Helped in a timely fashion 89% 11% 1%
10%
0%
1998 1999 2000 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Yes No DK/NA/Refused Treated with respect Given correct information Helped in a timely fashionRainy Day Fund
Trend: Compared to this time last year, do you believe the 'rainy day' general fund reserves is
______?
2019 - 2021
50%
46%
45% 43%
40% 38%
34% 34%
35%
30%
30%
25% 23%
20% 19%
15%
15%
9%
10%
5% 4%
5%
0%
Doing better Doing about the same Doing worse DK/NA/Refused
2019 2020 2021STRESSORS
Most Important Issue: Top 10 in 2021
Trend: Top 10 in 2021: In your opinion, what is the most important issue facing Sarasota County today?
2019 - 2021
30%
27%
26%
25% 23%
20%
20% 18%
15%
10%
10% 9%
6% 6% 6% 6%
5%
4% 4% 4% 4% 4%
5% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 4%
2% 2% 2% 2%
1%
0%
0%
2019 2020 2021Most Important Issue: Traffic
Of those who stated "Traffic/Transportation" is the most important issue facing Sarasota County: Is
there a certain area or street where the traffic is bad?
I-75 23%
Venice roundabout 13%
All over 13%
US-41 12%
University Pkwy 9%
Bee Ridge 8%
Beaches 8%
Cost of car 6%
Named specific road 6%
Downtown 2%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%Most Important Issue: Trend Top 5
In your opinion, what is the most important issue facing Sarasota County today?
Top 5 Trend: 2019 - 2021
Ranking 2019 2020 2021
There are no serious problems Population growth/new development Population growth/new
1
(26.6%) (25.7%) development (23.2%)
Population growth/New There are no serious problems
2 There are no serious problems (17.8%)
development (20.3%) (10.0%)
3 Traffic/Transportation (8.6%) Economy/jobs (4.2%) Quality of our waterways (6.3%)
Taxes (6.2%)
4 Crime (6.3%) Homelessness (3.7%)
Traffic/Transportation (6.2%)
Stormwater/drainage/flooding
5 Taxes (4.4%) Health Care (3.5%)
(5.4%)Greatest Stress on Household: Top 10 in 2021
Trend: What would you say is putting the greatest stress on your own household´s finances right now?
2019 - 2021
50%
45% 43%
42%
40%
35%
30% 28%
25%
20%
15% 12%
10% 10%
10% 8% 8% 8% 7%
7% 6% 7% 6%
6% 6%
5% 6% 4% 5% 5% 5%
5% 3% 3% 2% 2% 2% 3%
1% 1%
0%
None of the above Taxes in general Personal debt Property taxes Gas prices Household Health care cost Rising rental rates Child-raising costs Prescription drugs
--no stresses being (loan repayments, finances (day care, tuition,
felt mortgages, credit clothes, etc.)
cards, etc)
2019 2020 2021Greatest Stress on Household: Trend Top 3
Trend: What would you say is putting the greatest stress on your own household´s finances right now?
Top 3 Greatest Household Stressors 2017 - 2021
Ranking 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
No stresses being felt No stresses being felt No stresses being felt No stresses being felt No stresses being felt
1
(31%) (36%) (42%) (43%) (28%)
Household finances Household finances
2 Property taxes (12%) Property taxes (8%) Taxes in general (10%)
(15%) (18%)
Household finances Household finances
3 Property taxes (10%) Health care costs (6%) Personal debt (8%)
(10%) (7%)CITIZEN RECOMMENDATIONS
Importance and Experience
Expectation Gaps
10
Trend: Expectation Gap
2019 2021
9.02 9.05
9 8.90
Public safety 1.30 1.16
8.64
8.55
8.38 8.36 Fire and emergency services 1.10 1.03
8.20
8.02 8.00 Cleanliness of public spaces 1.50 0.90
8 7.87 7.88
Sense of community 0.80 0.50
Arts and cultural diversity 0.50 0.35
Parks and recreation 0.50 0.29
7
Public safety Fire and Cleanliness of Sense of Arts and cultural Parks and
emergency public spaces community diversity recreation
services
Importance ExperienceImportance Trend
Trend: Importance
2019 and 2021
10.00
9.80 9.80
9.70
9.50
9.50
9.30 9.30
9.02 9.05
9.00 8.90
8.64
8.55
8.50 8.38
8.00
7.50
Public safety Fire and emergency Cleanliness of public spaces Sense of community Arts and cultural diversity Parks and recreation
services
2019 2021Experience Trend
Trend: Experience
2019 and 2021
9.00
8.80 8.80
8.80
8.70 8.70
8.60
8.50
8.40 8.36
8.20 8.20
8.20
8.02 8.00
8.00
7.87 7.88
7.80
7.60
7.40
Public safety Fire and emergency Cleanliness of public Sense of community Arts and cultural diversity Parks and recreation
services spaces
2019 2021County Spending Priorities
Those that believe the county needs to reprioritize its
Which view about reprioritizing the budget budget: What specifically do you think needs to be done for
comes closest to your own? the county to reprioritize their budget?
Don't know 24%
Crime/Police 17%
18%
Health care 17%
Roads/Traffic 9%
More and better employment 5%
10%
Taxes 5%
More programs for less fortunate 4%
Education 4%
72%
Affordable housing 4%
More programs for elderly 4%
High gas prices 1%
Population growth 1%
Believe spending priorities are about right
Other 9%
Believe county needs to reprioritize its budget
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
DK/NA/RefusedCounty Spending Priorities: Trend
Trend: Some residents believe that the spending priorities of Sarasota County government are about right. Others believe that
the County needs to reprioritize its budget. Which view comes closest to your own?
2003 - 2021
80%
70% 72%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
18%
10% 10%
0%
2003 2004 2005 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Believe spending priorities are about right Believe county needs to reprioritize its budget DK/NA/RefusedContributing to Economic Growth
What do you think is the single biggest thing that can contribute to the growth of Sarasota County's
economy?
Eco-tourism 15%
Health and wellness 15%
Arts and culture 13%
Manufacturing 13%
Workforce housing 9%
Sports tourism 8%
Workforce training or re-training 8%
Commercial development 6%
Retail 5%
Transportation 5%
Residential construction 3%
Other 0.4%
0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 10% 11% 12% 13% 14% 15% 16%Contributing to Economic Growth: Trend
Trend: What do you think is the single biggest thing that can contribute to the growth of Sarasota County's
economy?
2019 - 2021
18%
17%
16%
16% 15% 15%
14%
14% 13%
13%
12% 12%
12% 11%
11% 11%
11%
10% 9% 9%
9%
8% 8%
8% 8% 8%
8%
7% 7%
6%
6% 5%
5% 5% 5%
5%
4% 3%
3%
2% 2% 2%
2%
0.4% 0.4%
0%
Eco-tourism Health and Arts and Manufacturing Workforce Sports tourism Workforce Commercial Retail Transportation Residential Other
wellness culture housing training or re- development construction
training
2019 2020 2021Prioritizing County Resources
Regarding things that affect the budget in Sarasota County, please tell me how
important it is for each for Sarasota County to prioritize resources. Please use a scale of 1
to 10, with 1 being the least important and 10 being the most important.
9
8.1
8
7.3
7
6.1
6 5.7
5
4
3
2
1
0
Public safety Libraries
2019 2021POLICY AMBIGUITY
COVID-19 Assistance Programs
Sarasota County has managed several local assistance programs related to the
COVID-19 pandemic. On a scale from 1 to 5, how would you rate Sarasota
County's management of COVID-19 assistance programs?
70%
60% 58%
50%
Mean score for
management of COVID-19
40% assistance programs: 4.15*
*Calculated with ratings 1 through 5; DK/NA/Refused
30% not factored in
19%
20%
14%
10% 6%
1% 2%
0%
1- Very poor 2 3 4 5- Very good DK/NA/RefusedCOVID-19 Program Familiarity
Which of the county's COVID-19 recovery funding programs are you familiar with? Name the first that
comes to mind.
Can't recall/Don't know 67%
Cares Act 15%
Rental Assistance Programs 9%
Pharmacies 5%
United Way 2%
EDC 1%
Red Cross 0.4%
American Rescue Plan 0.1%
Other 2%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%Policy Questions: Preserved Land
Thinking about land use, Sarasota County has land set Those who provided a percentage to the previous
aside as preserved environmental land that cannot be question.
developed. What percentage of land within Sarasota 70%
County do you believe is preserved and/or protected? 62%
60%
Don't know 51%
50%
Gives percentage 41% 40%
30%
Provide acreage not percentage 4%
21%
20% 17%
Provides geographical boundaries 4%
10%
None 0.2%
0%
Less than 25 percent Between 25 and 35 35 percent or more
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% percentPolicy Questions: Single-Member Districts
Sarasota County now operates with single-member county commission districts. This means that the county is
divided into separate geographic areas, creating districts, and one commissioner represents each district. Sarasota
County residents now vote for one county commissioner that will represent the district they live in for four years.
This is a change from previous elections. In previous elections, residents could vote for all five commissioners every
four years, and they represented the entire county.
On a scale of one to five, with one indicating "strongly disapprove" and five indicating
"strongly approve," how do you feel about this change?
25%
Mean score for
22% how residents feel
20%
20% 18% about the single-
15%
14% 14%
member district
12% change: 3.27*
10%
*Calculated with ratings 1
through 5; DK/NA/Refused
5% not factored in
0%
1- Strongly disapprove 2 3 4 5- Strongly approve DK/NA/RefusedCounty Surtax
Sarasota County uses several ways to raise money for Which of the following infrastructure projects would most
infrastructure projects. Are you aware that Sarasota benefit from more surtax funding?
County has a 1% sales tax in effect since 1989 that
has been used to invest in infrastructure such as Roads 50%
roads, bridges, and more?
Environment and water quality 41%
13%
Public safety 38%
Sidewalks 22%
24%
Parks 18%
63%
Libraries 6%
Other 1%
Yes No DK/NA/Refused 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%COVID-19 Vaccine Availability
Do you feel that receiving a COVID-19 vaccine in To those that did not feel getting the vaccine
Sarasota County has been or is an easy process was an easy process: What makes you say that?
for residents?
Don't know 56%
Logistics 23%
25%
Lack of info/Unclear 13%
9% Unnecessary 4%
66%
Refused 3%
Complications 1%
Yes No DK/NA/Refused 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%COVID-19 Vaccine Availability (Cont’d)
On a scale of one to five, rate how well you believe Sarasota County Department of
Health has managed COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
45%
40% 39%
Mean score for
35%
management of
30%
27%
COVID-19 vaccine
25%
25%
distribution: 4.17*
20%
*Calculated with ratings 1 through 5;
DK/NA/Refused not factored in
15%
10%
6%
5%
2% 2%
0%
1- Very poorly 2 3 4 5- Very well DK/NA/RefusedSeptic Tanks To those whose homes utilize a septic tank: Would you
prefer to be connected to a sewer system, if it was available
to you?
4%
Yes
Does your home utilize a septic tank?
45%
No
51%
DK/NA/Refused
14%
22%
If it were fiscally and logistically available to be connected to a
sewer system, are there any factors that would prohibit you
from connecting to the system?
No prohibiting factors 71%
Don't know 21%
65%
Cost 5%
Not available 2%
Yes No DK/NA/Refused Just don't want it 1%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%CONCLUSION
Conclusions
• Resident Satisfaction
• Robust trust in government and satisfaction with quality of life
• Stressors
• Drop in percentage of individuals who say there are no serious issues and increased
importance of population growth and new development
• Citizen Recommendations
• Rise in importance of health and wellness as well as eco-tourism as contributors to the
growth of the county’s economy
• Policy Ambiguity
• Large portions of public unsure about current topics of discussionTHANK YOU
Joseph Garcia International
Center
1101 Channelside Drive, Suite 301
Tampa, Florida 33602DATA APPENDICES
Location Correction
County Location Correction Incorporated Location Corrected Unincorporated Location Correction
90% 60% 60%
56%
54%
80% 76%
50% 50%
70% 67%
42%
41%
60% 39%
40% 40%
50%
40% 30% 30%
26%
33% 24% 25%
30% 21%
20% 17% 20% 18%
20%
20% 14%
12%
10% 10% 10%
3% 6%
0%
0% 3%
1%
Inside a city In an DK/NA
0% 0%
unincorporated
Inside the Inside the Inside the Inside the Nort From University From Clark Road From Blackburn From River Road
area of the county
Sarasota city Venice city Longboat Key Port city limits Parkway to Clark to Blackburn Point Road to to the South
Respondents Corrected limits limits town limits Road Point Road River Road County line
Respondents Corrected Respondents CorrectedYou can also read
