1 Public Opinion and Issues in Anne Arundel County: A Leadership Anne Arundel Presentation May 12, 2006 by Dan Nataf, Ph.D Director, Center for the Study of Local Issues Anne Arundel Community College 101 College Parkway Arnold, MD (410) (410) fax www2.aacc.edu/csli

2 LAA Presentation – May 12, 2006 The Center for the Study of Local Issues: Overview CSLI conducts public interest and private surveys each semester (since 1978) Respondents randomly chosen from universe of listed telephone numbers combined with computer generated numbers Typical sample size: respondents; students used as interviewers – Spring, 2006 – 401 respondents Each survey includes demographic and attitude/behavior questions, including such themes as: –Growth/Development –Transportation –Economic conditions –Education –Tax and spending preferences –Policy preferences Visit CSLI’s web site for previous surveys (www2.aacc.edu/csli)

3 LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006 The Center for the Study of Local Issues: Web Site - Homepage

4 LAA Presentation – May 12, 2006 Most Important Issues Facing AA County Residents – Trends for Major Issue Areas

5 LAA Presentation – May 12, 2006 Most Important Issues Facing AA County Residents – Spring 2006, Concern about the economy rises

6 Economic optimism – “ Thinking about our county's economy, how would you rate economic conditions in Anne Arundel County today -- excellent, good, only fair, or poor?” LAA Presentation – May 12, 2006 Focus on the Economy: Job Optimism with Inflation Anxieties National County

7 LAA Presentation – May 12, 2006 Economic Optimism - Perception of Issues in 2010 Negative expectations for all major issue areas except economy

8 LAA Presentation – May 12, 2006 Economic Anxiety - Concerns about the cost of living Cost factor Very serious Somewhat serious Not very serious No answer The cost of housing The cost of utilities such as electricity or natural gas The cost of gasoline The cost of health care Not having enough money for retirement The cost of education The cost of property taxes

9 LAA Presentation – May 12, 2006 Anxiety unevenly spread: Income and % saying “very serious” Housing Cost0- $50,000 $50,001 to $100,000 $100,001 and over Overall Health Care Money for Retirement Gasoline Education Housing Property taxes Utilities

10 LAA Presentation – May 12, 2006 Age and % saying “very serious” Overall Utilities Cost Property Taxes Gasoline Housing Health Care Money for Retirement Education

11 LAA Presentation – May 12, 2006 Gender and % saying “very serious” Item WomenMen Overall Gasoline Money for Retirement Utilities Cost Housing Education Health Care Property Taxes

12 LAA Presentation – May 12, 2006 Race and % saying “very serious” African- Americans Whites Overall Gasoline Health Care Money for Retirement Housing Education Utilities Cost 6764 Property Taxes

13 Attribute citedPercentage Purchase price Median: $ ,000 39% A type that is lacking in AA County 20% Housing type – apartments, townhouses, section 8 19% User type – low income, poor9% Other12% Total100% LAA Presentation – May 12, 2006 What is “affordable housing?” Fall 2002 Is the lack of affordable housing in Anne Arundel County a problem? Yes 54% No 34% Don’t know 12%

14 LAA Presentation – May 12, 2006 Main Economic Challenge for the Next Decade (Fall 2005) Challenge% Citing Managing growth/development31 Providing affordable housing19 Providing proper skills/education for workers 19 Infrastructure, roads10 Providing enough jobs9 Govt. budget problems/services3 Gas prices2 Taxes2 Other5

15 LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006 Effectiveness of County Growth Policies (Fall 2004) How effective have County policies been regarding growth and planning?

16 LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006 Approaches for Managing Growth/Transportation (Fall 1998) Approach to growth and transportationYesNo Build or upgrade highly congested roads and intersections in the county 7713 Create a local jitney bus service7121 Increase bus availability to major cities (Balt/DC)6922 Make it easier to get o MARC trains6720 Make it easier to find other people with whom to carpool6326 Severely limit new residential development – higher impact fees 5433 Put moratorium on new residential development in your area5335 Reduce fares on public transportation5228 Allow more intense development of areas well served by public transportation 4345

17 LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006 Confidence in/perceived preparedness of local authorities – meet challenges or terrorist strike/natural disasters (Fall 2005) Preparedness/ Confidence Econ.Environ.TerrorDisaster Very8711 Somewhat Not very No answer7634

18 Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Trends How prepared are local authorities in event of terrorist strike – Katrina

19 LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006 Historical Perspective: How has County dealt with issues? (Fall 1999) I am going to read you a list of problems facing the County. Please tell me how well you think the County has dealt with these problems over the last year. Has the problem gotten better, stayed about the same, or gotten worse? Issue Gotten better Stayed about the same Gotten worse Better- Worse Improving the local economy Improving the overall quality of life in our County Controlling crime Improving the environment Reducing poverty and homelessness Improving ethics in government Improving the efficiency of local government Keeping taxes low Improving the academic performance of our children Planning growth and development Reducing traffic congestion

20 LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006 Crime Problem

21 LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006 Crime: Safety and Security in County and Neighborhood (2005)

22 LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006 Crime: Been a Victim of Crime? ( )

23 LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006 Crime: Improve Safety (Average ) One Thing to Most Improve Safety

24 LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006 Education – Perceived Value to Taxpayers? Spend more, same or less on public service? (Spring 2004) ServiceMore % Same % Less % Don’t% know Public schools Police Fire Community college Seniors’ services Roads Average percentage Environmental programs Social services Health department Libraries Parks and recreation Planning and zoning

25 LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006 Would proposals help, hurt or have no effect on the quality of public schools (Spring 1996) HelpHurtNo effect HelpHurtNo effect Add Teaching Aides in Classrooms 9117 Increase Local Community Control over Schools Reduce Class Size8929 Provide More Elective Courses in Higher Grades Give Teachers More Power when Dealing with Disruptive Students 8687 Allow more variety in the curriculum Emphasize a "Return to Basics" Approach to Education 8659Change the School Board selection process Provide More Assistance to Special Education 85410Provide More Financial Assistance to Schools doing Poorly on Standardized Tests Encourage Flexibility in Teaching Methods 8398Add some Specialized Programs Increase Teacher Salaries82315Introduce School Prayers Start some Countywide "Magnet" Schools 79714Place Some Schools on a Year Round Schedule Create a Special High School for Disruptive Students Redistrict schools more frequently

26 LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006 If the County ends the year with a surplus, which of the following would you prefer to see happen? (Fall 2005) Proposal% The County spends it on high priority areas28 The County keeps it for a ‘rainy day’ when it might be needed, such as an emergency 19 The County sends it back to taxpayers as a tax refund15 The County uses it to lower taxes next year30 Other answer5 No answer, unsure2

27 LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006 General orientation – cut programs or cut spending? (Spring 2003, Fall 2003) ProposalSpring 2003Fall 2003 Cut programs4034 Increase taxes3634 Other--18 Don’t know2414 Total100

28 LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006 Revenue enhancement – Income taxes (Spring 2003, Fall 2003) ApproachFavorOppose Unsure Increase income taxes for everyone An increase in state income taxes Increasing the County’s local income tax rate Increase income taxes on business and the “rich” Increasing the corporate income tax rate by 1 percent Placing a 3 percent surcharge on the income tax of people who make $500,000 or more annually

29 LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006 Revenue enhancement – Sales/gasoline taxes (Spring 2003, Fall 2003) FavorOpposeUnsure Increase the state sales tax by 1 percent, from 5 to 6 percent An increase in the general sales tax46532 An increase in the state gasoline tax29692 Higher taxes on gasoline to encourage use of more fuel efficient vehicles (Fall 2005) 20764

30 LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006 Revenue enhancement – User/Specific Fees (Fall 2003) ApproachFavorOpposeUnsure Creating specific taxes to fund County public safety such as fire & police County Increasing impact fees on new housing development in AA Creating a $2.50 surcharge on monthly sewage fees to help upgrade waste water treatment plants Legalizing slot machines in Maryland62336

31 LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006 Expenditure reduction (Spring 2003) ApproachFavorOpposeUnsure Postponing fully funding the Thornton Plan for public education Layoffs of state and County employees Reducing salaries of state employees Cutting back on state services Reducing financial support for higher education 18784

32 LAA Presentation: May 12, 2006 Expenditure reduction – Identify ways to cut govt. spending (open-ended) (Spring 2003) Approach (N=85)FavorCases Reduce government salaries1513 Reduce politicians salaries1210 Reduce government perks76 Cut waste, administration119 Cut back on specific programs3933 Other miscellaneous1614 Total10085