This survey of 5,200 registered voters in Miami-Dade County assessed perceptions of and support for the county library system. It found that 81% have a favorable view of libraries and 80% oppose significant budget cuts. However, only 38% initially supported a $25 annual tax increase to address a potential $20 million deficit. After arguments were presented, support increased to 41%. The survey also tested support for alternative budget solutions like cuts to other services. Overall, voters preferred increasing library funding to cuts in services or other budgets.

1. Support for Libraries in Miami-Dade County:
A comprehensive survey of likely voters
July 10, 2014

2. Methodology
Sample 5,200 interviews with likely
registered voters in
Miami-Dade County
(400 interviews in each of the
13 County Commission Districts)
Dates of Interviews June 27 – July 7, 2014
Languages of
Interviews
English, Spanish,
Haitian-Creole
Margin of Error 1.36 percentage points
2

3. I. Perception and usage of the
Miami-Dade County Library System
3

4. Please tell me if you have a favorable or
unfavorable opinion of the Miami-Dade County
Library System?
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Don't know/No answer
Somewhat/Very unfavorable
Very/Somewhat favorable
13%
55% 26%
4
81%
6%

5. How often do you visit any branch of the
Miami-Dade County Public Library?
0%
20%
40%
60%
Several
times a
week
About once
a week
A few times
a month
About once
a month
About once
every other
month
A few times
a year
Once a year
or less
Never
5%
7%
11% 10%
4%
17% 16%
30%
5

6. How often do you visit any branch of the
Miami-Dade County Public Library?
0%
20%
40%
60%
Frequently Infrequently Never
37%
33%
30%
6

7. 7
II. Library Funding Debate

8. Issue Description
Miami-Dade County is currently
experiencing budget difficulties. In order
to balance the budget, the County is
considering a significant reduction in
funding for the library system, which
could lead to reductions in staff, hours,
and services.
8

9. Based on what you now know about the Miami-Dade Public
Library System, do you support or oppose a significant cut to the
library budget?
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Support Oppose Don't know/No answer
13%
80%
7%
9

10. Library Funding Options
The library fund currently generates about $30 million per year, but
the current budget for the library system is $50 million, which
means that the library budget could face a deficit of up to $20
million next year. There have been several proposals as to how the
county should deal with this issue:
• A) the library portion of the property tax should be increased to
cover the shortage, which would represent an average increase of
$25 per year per homeowner;
• B) the county should make budget cuts to other county services in
order to fund the libraries without raising taxes;
• C) the library should reduce services – such as cutting back on
programs and materials, reducing hours of operation and cutting
back on staff.
10

11. Which of these statements is closest to your opinion?
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Increase library
portion of
property tax
Make budget cuts
from other
county services
without
increasing taxes
Reduce library
services
Don't know/No
answer
27%
42%
18%
13%
do not want to reduce library services
11
69%

12. Proposal A:
•The library portion of the
property tax should be increased
to cover the shortage, which
would represent an average
increase of $25 per year per
homeowner.
12

13. Regardless of how much you may or may not have heard about this issue,
would you be in favor of increasing the library portion of the property tax to support the library
system which would represent an average increase of $25 per year per homeowner or would you
be against increasing the library portion of the property tax at all?
0%
20%
40%
60%
In favor of increasing tax Against increasing tax Don't know/No answer
38%
58%
4%
13

14. At the current rate, Miami-Dade’s Library System already spends less money per person on books and other materials than almost
any other library system in the country and if this tax increase is not approved to close the gap in the budget, the system would
have to further reduce services – including firing up to 56 percent of its librarians and other full-time staff, reducing spending on
books, computers, reducing hours of operation by 35 percent, cutting back on programs like literacy programs for children and
adults and potentially even closing branch locations.
Supporting argument
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Don't know/No answer
Not convincing/Don't believe
Very/Somewhat convincing
5%
27%
29%
15%
24%
14
53%
42%

15. If the library portion of the property tax is not increased, the
budget shortfall will mean that 56 percent of librarians in
Miami-Dade County will lose their jobs.
Supporting argument
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Don't know/No answer
Not convincing/Don't believe
Very/Somewhat convincing
6%
24%
28%
16%
26%
15
54%
40%

16. If the library portion of the property tax is not increased, the budget shortfall will
mean that libraries will have to drastically cut back hours of operation from 6 days a
week to 4 days a week and from 8 hours a day to 5 hours a day, on average.
Supporting argument
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Don't know/No answer
Not convincing/Don't believe
Very/Somewhat convincing
4%
26%
27%
15%
28%
16
55%
41%

17. Statistics show that library usage has actually been increasing in recent years across the country, and the
Miami-Dade Libraries provide important services to many members of the community, especially children and
low income communities – such as literacy programs, cultural programs, computer and Internet access and
others – and add to the overall quality of life for all Miami-Dade residents.
Supporting argument
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Don't know/No answer
Not convincing/Don't believe
Very/Somewhat convincing
3%
15%
50%
7%
25%
17
75%
22%

18. Libraries are outdated and will probably soon be obsolete, they simply are no longer
essential as a public service for the residents of Miami-Dade County. Given that we
now have resources like the Internet, we can’t afford the luxury of spending millions
more tax dollars on libraries.
Opposition argument
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Don't know/No answer
Not convincing/Don't believe
Very/Somewhat convincing
3%
36%
16%
27%
18%
18
34%
63%

19. Miami-Dade County has been facing major budget issues for the past several years and libraries
just aren’t the highest priority. Any tax increases imposed on the residents should be reserved
for more important priorities and services that benefit the majority of residents, such as funding
for the public schools, police and fire services and infrastructure costs.
Opposition argument
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Don't know/No answer
Not convincing/Don't believe
Very/Somewhat convincing
5%
27%
25%
15%
28%
19
53%
42%

20. Now that you have heard some arguments on both sides of the issue, I’d like to ask you once
more, would you be in favor of increasing the library portion of the property tax to support the
library system or would you be against increasing the library portion of the property tax?
Informed responses
0%
20%
40%
60%
In favor of increasing tax Against increasing tax Don't know/No answer
41%
54%
5%
20

21. Increase Library Tax
Before Information After Information
In favor of
increasing tax
38% 41%
Against
increasing tax
58% 54%
Don’t know/
No answer
4% 5%
21

22. Proposal B:
•The county should make
budget cuts to other county
services in order to fund the
libraries without raising taxes.
22

23. Another option being considered for funding the library budget shortfall without
raising taxes could come from making budget cuts to other county services.
Would you be in favor of funding the library budget shortfall by making budget cuts to
other county services?
0%
20%
40%
60%
Yes No Don't know/No answer
48%
39%
13%
23

24. Would you be willing to cut back funding for the
Police Department in order to support the Library?
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Yes No Don't know/No answer
31%
67%
2%
24

25. Would you be willing to cut back funding for the Parks and
Recreation Department in order to support the Library?
0%
20%
40%
60%
Yes No Don't know/No answer
46%
49%
5%
25

26. Would you be willing to cut back funding for the Public
Infrastructure, such as roads, sidewalks and public buildings, in
order to support the Library?
0%
20%
40%
60%
Yes No Don't know/No answer
54%
42%
4%
26

27. Would you be willing to cut back funding for the Health and Human Services
Department, which provides services such as meals to the elderly and shelter
to victims of domestic violence, in order to support the Library?
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Yes No Don't know/No answer
12%
85%
3%
27

28. Now that you have heard more information about possible scenarios to address the budget
deficit that could be up to $20 million for the library system, which of the following three
options do you want your County Commissioner to support when it comes to the library system
funding?
Informed responses
0%
20%
40%
60%
Increase library
portion of property
tax
Make budget cuts
from other county
services without
raising taxes
Reduce library
services
Don't know/ No
answer
34% 33%
22%
11%
28
67% do not want to reduce library services

29. Now that you have heard more information about possible scenarios to
address the budget deficit that could be up to $20 million for the library
system, which of the following three options do you want your County
Commissioner to support when it comes to the library system funding?
By Race/Ethnicity
0%
20%
40%
60%
Increase library
portion of
property tax
Make budget cuts
to other county
services
Reduce library
services
Don't know/No
answer
35% 34%
17% 14%
49%
25%
17%
10%
25%
37%
26%
12%
Black White Anglo Hispanic
29

30. Now that you have heard more information about possible scenarios to
address the budget deficit that could be up to $20 million for the library
system, which of the following three options do you want your County
Commissioner to support when it comes to the library system funding?
By Political party
30
0%
20%
40%
60%
Increase library
portion of
property tax
Make budget cuts
to other county
services
Reduce library
services
Don't know/No
answer
40%
31%
17%
12%
23%
36%
28%
12%
36%
31%
20%
13%
Democrat Republican Independent

31. Potential Solutions
Before Information After Information
Increase library portion
of property tax
27% 34%
Make budget cuts from
other county services
without raising taxes
42% 33%
Reduce library services 18% 22%
Don’t know/
No answer
13% 11%
31

32. III. Inside the County Commission Districts
32

33. • Based on what you know about
the Miami-Dade Public Library
System, do you support or
oppose a significant cut to the
library budget?
33

34. Support Oppose Don´t know/
No answer
District 1 – Barbara J. Jordan 10% 85% 6%
District 2 – Jean Monestime 13% 79% 9%
District 3 – Audrey Edmonson 12% 83% 5%
District 4 – Sally A. Heyman 14% 80% 7%
District 5 – Bruno A. Barreiro 11% 82% 7%
District 6 – Rebecca Sosa 12% 81% 7%
District 7 – Xavier Suarez 15% 80% 5%
District 8 – Lynda Bell 11% 82% 7%
District 9 – Dennis C. Moss 10% 80% 10%
District 10 – Javier D. Souto 23% 69% 8%
District 11 – Juan C. Zapata 13% 79% 8%
District 12 – Jose “Pepe” Diaz 12% 83% 6%
District 13 – Esteban Bovo, Jr. 17% 79% 5%
34

35. Now that you have heard more information, which of the following three
options do you want your county commissioner to support when it comes to
the library system funding?
A) The library portion of the property tax should be
increased
B) The county should make budget cuts to other
county services in order to fund the libraries
C) The library should reduce services, cutting back on
programs and materials, reducing hours and cutting
staff
35

36. Library portion
of the property
tax should be
increased
Make budget cuts to
other county
services without
raising taxes
Reduce
services
Don’t know/
No answer
District 1 35% 33% 18% 15%
District 2 33% 32% 17% 18%
District 3 37% 35% 17% 11%
District 4 44% 24% 18% 14%
District 5 31% 33% 24% 12%
District 6 29% 34% 28% 10%
District 7 46% 26% 20% 9%
District 8 39% 31% 18% 12%
District 9 32% 37% 18% 14%
District 10 30% 40% 25% 6%
District 11 30% 36% 24% 10%
District 12 23% 41% 27% 10%
District 13 27% 37% 25% 16%
36

37. 37
IV. Demographics

38. Race/Ethnicity
0%
20%
40%
60%
Black White
Anglo
Hispanic Asian Another
race
Don't
know/No
answer
21%
24%
51%
1% 2% 1%
38

39. Do you have any children under the age of
18 currently living at home with you?
20%
79%
1%
Yes
No
No answer
39

40. Annual Household Income
40
0%
20%
40%
60%
Less than
$25,000
$25,000 to
$50,000
$50,000 to
$75,000
$75,000 to
$100,000
More than
$100,000
Don't
know/No
answer
27%
23%
14%
9%
12%
15%

41. Gender
42%
58%
Male
Female
41

42. Home ownership
77%
21%
2%
Homeowner
Renter
No answer
42

43. Political Party
48%
36%
16%
Democrat
Republican
Independent
43