1. Using Citizen Surveys Geoffrey D. Peterson Director, UW-Eau Claire Political Research Institute

2. The Political Research Institute The UW-Eau Claire Political Research Institute works to enhance lines of communication between the governed and those who govern. The UW-Eau Claire Political Research Institute works to enhance lines of communication between the governed and those who govern. The PRI provides non-partisan consultations for local governments, non-profit organizations, and fellow institutions of higher education The PRI provides non-partisan consultations for local governments, non-profit organizations, and fellow institutions of higher education Founded in 2001 by the political science department at UW-Eau Claire Founded in 2001 by the political science department at UW-Eau Claire

3. Citizen Surveys Designed to measure citizen opinion on important political issues Designed to measure citizen opinion on important political issues Working through UW-Eau Claire ensures objectivity and anonymity to respondents Working through UW-Eau Claire ensures objectivity and anonymity to respondents Response rates are high and draw significant interest from the public Response rates are high and draw significant interest from the public

4. Why Mail Surveys? Mail surveys are cost effective Mail surveys are cost effective They guarantee that all members of the community have a chance to respond They guarantee that all members of the community have a chance to respond Mail surveys give respondents a chance to consider questions at length Mail surveys give respondents a chance to consider questions at length Allows for more complex question construction Allows for more complex question construction

5. Types Of Questions

6. Forced Choice: l “To which of the following would you be most opposed to cutting: snowplowing, park maintenance, or road maintenance?” l “In your opinion, which department in the city provides you with the best value for your tax dollar: police, parks and recreation, or road maintenance?”

7. Open-Ended Questions “Please give your impressions of the city council.” “If you had to name the most important issue facing the City in the next decade, what would it be?”

8. Issue Priority Questions l “Please rank the following issues facing the city in order of importance from 1 (highest) to 5 (lowest): cutting taxes, improving city parks, long-term growth planning, improving road surfaces, economic development planning.” l “From the following list, please choose the three issues you believe should be the highest priorities for the city government in the next budget cycle.”

9. Chippewa Falls Citizen Survey

10. RESPONSE RATE 1,944 total responses for a response rate of 31.69% 1,944 total responses for a response rate of 31.69% Responses were reasonably balanced from most of the community, with some over-representation of seniors and homeowners. Responses were reasonably balanced from most of the community, with some over-representation of seniors and homeowners. Consistent with response rates with similar surveys Consistent with response rates with similar surveys

11. RESIDENCY

12. PERCENTAGE TAX INCREASE

13. RAW DOLLAR TAX INCREASE

14. TAX MATCHING ACCURACY

15. TAX MATCHING & RESIDENCY

16. TAX MATCHING BY INCOME

17. TAX MATCHING & SENIORS

18. CUT SERVICES OR RAISE TAXES?

19. GROWTH

20. WASTE IN CITY GOVT?

21. WASTE BY INCOME

22. What Can Surveys Do For You? Give you a broader base of information Give you a broader base of information Give you timely feedback Give you timely feedback Provide you with a greater pool of opinion Provide you with a greater pool of opinion Educate the public about the issues facing your community Educate the public about the issues facing your community Allow you to judge where citizen priorities truly are Allow you to judge where citizen priorities truly are