2017 Info Night Presentation - Community Survey - Town of Hartford, Vermont
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The survey of Hartford residents found generally high satisfaction with town services. Most respondents wanted funding for services to remain the same, though some favored increased funding for roads and libraries. A plurality preferred a budget strategy that would somewhat reduce services to limit tax increases. Most favored curbside trash pickup and increased parking downtown. While many were involved through voting, few attended meetings or served on committees. Direct mail, email, and the town website were cited as best for town communication, with preferences varying by age.
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2017 Info Night Presentation - Community Survey - Town of Hartford, Vermont
- 1. © University of New Hampshire. All rights reserved. Hartford Community Survey Zachary S. Azem, M.A. University of New Hampshire Survey Center
- 2. Purpose of the Survey • Gather citizen input to help town craft upcoming fiscal year budget – Satisfaction with Hartford services – Perception of town spending on services – Support/opposition for potential town projects – Perception of the town government – Citizen involvement with town governance – Best methods to communicate with residents
- 3. Methodology • Mail surveys and a reminder postcard sent to all addresses and post office boxes in Hartford – Additional surveys were available at different town locations – Surveys were passed out on Election Day • 931 completed the survey – Response rate: • 14% (out of total addresses) • 19% (full-time residents out of year-round households)
- 4. Demographics • 93%: Full-Time Residents • 88%: Homeowners • 50%: Lived in Hartford for Over 20 Years • 30%: Work/Own a Business in Hartford • Compared to Census (ACS) Totals -Similar gender and income -More older residents -More formal education
- 6. Satisfaction With Town Services 47% 50% 64% 66% 67% 69% 69% 70% 78% 79% 83% 10% 21% 3% 14% 2% 13% 9% 17% 20% 6% 16% 42% 28% 33% 21% 31% 18% 23% 14% 14% 2% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Health & Social Services Planning & Development EMS Libraries Fire Parks & Recreation Police Administration Road Maintenance - Summer Solid Waste Transfer Station Road Maintenance - Winter Very Satisfied/Satisfied Very Unsatisfied/Unsatisfied Don't Use/NA
- 7. Satisfaction With Services Residents Use 70% 78% 81% 82% 83% 85% 85% 89% 93% 96% 96% 30% 22% 19% 18% 17% 15% 15% 11% 7% 4% 4% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Planning & Development Road Maintenance - Summer Administration Health & Social Services Libraries Parks & Recreation Road Maintenance - Winter Police Solid Waste Transfer Station EMS Fire Very Satisfied/Satisfied Very Unsatisfied/Unsatisfied
- 8. Funding for Town Services 21% 7% 24% 3% 18% 29% 12% 18% 14% 23% 6% 44% 48% 48% 49% 53% 55% 56% 58% 59% 62% 68% 10% 22% 13% 29% 11% 5% 18% 5% 8% 3% 6% 26% 22% 14% 19% 17% 11% 13% 20% 18% 11% 20% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Health & Social Services Planning & Development Libraries Administration Police Road Maintenance - Summer Parks & Recreation EMS Fire Road Maintenance - Winter Solid Waste Transfer Station Increase Stay the Same Decrease Don't Know
- 9. % Want Increased Funding for… 3% 6% 7% 12% 14% 18% 18% 21% 23% 24% 29% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% Administration Solid Waste Transfer Station Planning & Development Parks & Recreation Fire EMS Police Health and Social Services Road Maintenance - Winter Libraries Road Maintenance - Summer
- 10. % Want Decreased Funding for… 3% 5% 5% 6% 8% 10% 11% 13% 18% 22% 29% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% Road Maintenance - Winter EMS Road Maintenance - Summer Solid Waste Transfer Station Fire Health and Social Services Police Libraries Parks & Recreation Planning & Development Administration
- 11. Strategy for Future Town Budgets 17% 28% 32% 23% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% Don't Know/Not Sure Significantly Reduce or Eliminate Services (0%-3% Tax Increase) Somewhat Reduce Services (4%-6% Tax Increase) Fully Fund Services (7%-10% Tax Increase)
- 12. Town Initiatives
- 13. Favor/Oppose Complete Curbside Trash/Recycling Pickup Strongly - 27% Strongly - 13% 14% Somewhat - 28% Somewhat - 18% 55% 31% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Favor Oppose DK/No Opinion
- 14. Favor/Oppose Potential Projects in Hartford 11% 17% 16% 16% 15% 33% 36% 37% 39% 42% 27% 39% 39% 36% 35% 29% 8% 7% 9% 8% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Restore Wright's Reservoir Increase Bike Lanes Increase Amount of Sidewalks Create a Town Trail Network Increase Parking in WRJ Downtown Favor, Even If Raised Taxes Favor, But No Tax Increases Oppose, Not Needed Don't Know
- 15. Strategy for Road Paving 7% 19% 40% 35% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% Don't Know/Not Sure Convert Some Paved Roads Back To Dirt Roads Paved on Schedule Only When There Are Funds All Roads in Hartford Paved On Schedule
- 16. Town Government
- 17. Views on Town Government 41% 34% 30% 27% 28% 36% 27% 36% 38% 27% 30% 29% 17% 24% 24% 28% 41% 43% 44% 47% 49% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% The Town Government is effective at attracting new families The Town Government is effective at attracting new businesses Most elected officials care about what people like me think I receive good value for the taxes I pay The Town Government is run for the benefit of all of the people The Town Government welcomes citizen involvement I am pleased with the overall direction the town is taking Strongly/Somewhat Agree Strongly/Somewhat Disagree Neutral/Don't Know
- 18. Town Involvement 6% 17% 79% 7% 26% 8% 9% 27% 4% 76% 30% 9% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Serve on Town Boards or Committees Attend Town Meeting Events Vote in Hartford Town Elections Always/Frequently Sometimes Rarely Never Don't Know
- 19. Town Involvement 6% 10% 18% 8% 14% 33% 28% 16% 21% 59% 59% 26% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Attend Hartford Board/ Committee Meetings Watch Town Meetings on CATV Visit Town of Hartford Website At Least a Few Times a Month Once Every 2-3 Months 1-2 Times a Year Never
- 20. Best Way For Town To Inform Residents 2% 2% 3% 5% 13% 17% 24% 35% 37% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% Other TV Ads Radio Ads CATV Social Media Newspaper Ads Town Website Emails/Listservs Direct Mailing
- 21. Best Way of Communication By Age 32% 27% 38% 39% 44%43% 57% 36% 33% 15% 29% 26% 28% 27% 8% 8% 12% 15% 18% 32% 28% 15% 13% 8% 5%0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 44 or Younger 45 to 54 55 to 64 65 to 74 75 and Older Direct Mailing Email/Listservs Town Website Newspaper Ads Social Media
- 22. Conclusions • Respondents generally satisfied with town services • Most would like to see town funding for various services to stay the same – Road maintenance, libraries, health & social services are areas where respondents are most likely to want funding to be increased – Administration, planning & development, parks & recreation are areas where respondents are most likely to want funding to be decreased • Plurality of respondents favor budget strategy which would somewhat reduce services in order to reduce increase in tax rate.
- 23. Conclusions • Majority of Hartford residents favor extending residential recycling pickup to include garbage and trash • Majority of residents favor increased parking in WRJ Downtown, creating a town trail network, increasing the amount of sidewalks and increasing bike lanes – Few would be willing to pay more in taxes for any of these projects to be implemented • Two in five residents want roads paved on schedule only when there are sufficient funds – Another 35% want roads always paved on schedule even at the rate of increased taxes or reduced spending on programs
- 24. Conclusions • Pluralities (but not majorities) of respondents agree with statements about town direction, citizen involvement and value for the taxes they pay • Pluralities disagree that the town is effective at attracting new businesses or families to Hartford
- 25. Conclusions • Most citizen involvement in town is through voting in town elections • Most do not regularly attend town meeting events or serve on Town Boards or Committees • Very few watch Town Meetings on Community Access TV or Attend Board or Committee Meetings • The top suggested ways for the Town to better inform citizens of what it is doing are Direct Mailing, Emails/Listservs, Town Website, Newspaper Ads, Social Media – The preferred method depends heavily on age.
- 26. Thank You