Here is Tom Lando’s sales tax survey, apparently conducted at some point within the last couple of weeks:
Chico Sales Tax Survey
(1/18/2012 Version 7)
Methods:
Field Dates: • January, 2012
Sample Size: • 400 completed interviews within the City of Chico
Sampling Error: • Less than +/- 5.0%
Unit of Analysis: • Voter Households
Population: • All parties
Propensity • + 40
Questionnaire • 40 data points, plus sample demographics
Interview Length • 12 minutes
Sample Vendor • Political Data Inc.
Field Vendor • SSI
Hello, this is _____ of _____, a public opinion research company. We are . . .
• Right Track – Wrong •
1. Would you say that city government in Chico is on the right track, or is the city going in the wrong direction?
01) Right track
02) Wrong direction
03) Undecided / Neither {VOLUNTEERED}
99) Refusal
• 1st Ballot •
2. Business leaders and other members of the Chico community are considering placing a locally controlled one-cent sales tax measure on the ballot. The sales tax would last for 20 years and then sunset. The sales tax would fund a variety of community improvements in areas such as public safety, high school sports, community facilities, libraries and local traffic improvements. If the election were held today, would you vote for or against the locally controlled one-cent sales tax measure?
01) For {GOTO 4}
02) Against {GOTO 3b}
03) Undecided {VOLUNTEERED} {GOTO 3b}
99) Refused
• Follow-UP Ballot •
3b. If the election were held today, would you vote for or against a locally controlled three-fourths-cent sales tax measure?
01) For {GOTO 5}
02) Against {GOTO 3c}
03) Undecided {VOLUNTEERED} {GOTO 3c}
99) Refused
3c. If the election were held today, would you vote for or against a locally controlled one-half-cent sales tax measure?
01) For
02) Against
03) Undecided {VOLUNTEERED}
99) Refused
• Name Identification & Impression •
4. Let me read you some names of people who are active in the community. For each one, please tell me if you have heard of that person. Then, if so, please tell me if you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of them..
CATEGORIES FOR CODING:
01) Heard/Favorable
02) Heard/Unfavorable
03) Heard/No Opinion
04) Not heard
99) Refusal
{RANDOMIZE ORDER}
4a. Councilman Bob Evans
4b. Councilwoman Mary Flynn
4c. Councilman Scott Gruendl
4d. Councilman Andy Holcombe
4e. Mayor Ann Schwab {MAYOR}
4f. Councilman Mark Sorensen
4g. Vice Mayor Jim Walker {VICE MAYOR}
• Item Block •
5. Now let me read you a list of items that could be partially funded by a locally controlled sales tax measure. For each item please tell me if including that item on the list would make you much more likely, somewhat more likely, somewhat less likely, or much less likely to vote for the measure.
01) Much more likely
02) Somewhat more likely
03) Somewhat less likely
04) Much less likely
05) Undecided {VOLUNTEERED}
99) Refused
{ROTATE ORDER}
5a. Up to 25 new police officers and fire fighters.
5b. A new community and recreation center
5c. A new high school football stadium
5d. Restoring high school sports, theater, music, and industrial arts programs
5e. Chico Library operations.
5f. Bidwell Mansion operations
5g. Bidwell Park Maintenance.
5h. Repairing roads and filling potholes.
5i. Supporting local non-profit organizations.
5j. A new competitive-level community pool.
• Endorsement Block •
6. Now let me read you a list of organizations that might endorse such a sales tax increase. For each organization please tell if their endorsement would make you much more likely, somewhat more likely, somewhat less likely, or much less likely to vote for a sales tax increase.
01) Much more likely
02) Somewhat more likely
03) Somewhat less likely
04) Much less likely
05) Undecided {VOLUNTEERED}
99) Refused
{RANDOMIZE ORDER}
6a. The Chico Chamber of Commerce
6b. Chico Democratic Club
6c. The League of Women Voters
6d. Friends of Bidwell Park
6e. Chico Esplanade League
6f. Former Supervisor Jane Dolan
6g. Supervisor Larry Wahl
6h. Supervisor Maureen Kirk
6i. Sierra Nevada Brewery Owner, Ken Grossman
6j. Former Mayor Michael McGinnis
6k. former City manager Tom Lando
6l. Bidwell Presbyterian Church Pastor Steve Schibstead
6m. Chico Police Officers Association
• Opposition Block •
7. Now I’m going to read you a list of organizations that might oppose such a sales tax increase. For each organization please tell if their opposition would make you much more likely, somewhat more likely, somewhat less likely, or much less likely to vote for a sales tax increase.
01) Much more likely
02) Somewhat more likely
03) Somewhat less likely
04) Much less likely
05) Undecided {VOLUNTEERED}
99) Refused
{RANDOMIZE ORDER}
7a. Butte County Republican Party
7b. Butte County Tea Party
7c. Butte County Taxpayers Association
• Push Block •
8. For the next couple of minutes please listen to some arguments that have been made for and against the measure. For each argument please tell me if it makes you much more, more, less, or much less likely to vote for the measure. If the argument makes no difference either way just say so.
01) Much more
02) More
03) Less
04) Much less
05) No difference / undecided
99) Refused
{RANDOMIZE ORDER}
8a. Supporters argue that government works best and is more accountable to taxpayers when decisions are made locally. Funds generated from a locally controlled sales tax would receive local independent citizen oversight.
8b. Supporters argue that budget cuts have weakened local police and fire staffing and services. Funds generated from a locally controlled sales tax would allow Chico to hire up to 25 new police officers and firefighters to protect our streets and provide essential emergency services to our community.
8c. Supporters argue that years of budget cuts to our schools have led to the elimination of important school programs like art, sports, theater and shop. Funds generated from a locally controlled sales tax will restore and protect many of these important programs for our kids.
8d. Supporters argue that there is no end in sight to future budget cuts. A locally controlled sales tax would generate local funding to protect many of Chico’s most important priorities, including public safety, libraries, and youth and high school programs.
8e. Opponents argue that even local governments have a poor record of providing accountability. We don’t really have any guarantees that revenues from this tax increase will be well spent.
8f. Opponents argue that Public safety and emergency services are essential, but during tough times we need to find more funding for our police with money from non-essential programs. Just like a family living on a budget, we need to move money from non-essential programs to those most critical.
8g. Opponents argue that funding for school programs like art, sports and theater need to come from parents in times like these and should not shouldered by someone without any school-age children who could already be on a fixed income. A sales tax hike will cost everyone more, and while we’d like to replace lost funding, we just can’t afford it.
8h. Opponents argue that Taxpayers are taxed enough already. The taxpayers simply can’t endure more taxes, at least not until the economy improves. For the moment government needs to tighten its belt along with taxpayers.
• 2nd Ballot •
9a. Having heard this information, would you vote for or against the one-cent sales tax measure?
01) For {GOTO 11a}
02) Against {GOTO 10b}
03) Undecided {VOLUNTEERED} {GOTO 10b}
99) Refused
10b. If the election were held today, would you vote for or against the three-fourths-cent sales tax measure?
01) For {GOTO 11a}
02) Against {GOTO10c}
03) Undecided {VOLUNTEERED} {GOTO 10c}
99) Refused
10c. If the election were held today, would you vote for or against the one-half-cent sales tax measure?
01) For
02) Against
03) Undecided {VOLUNTEERED}
99) Refused
• Demographics •
Just a few more questions for statistical purposes . . .
11a. Do you consider yourself {ROTATE ORDER}liberal, somewhat liberal, middle-of-the-road, somewhat conservative, or conservative?
01) Liberal
02) Somewhat liberal
03) Middle-of-the-road
04) Somewhat conservative
05) Conservative
99) Refusal
11b. Thinking about how you vote, do you usually vote {ROTATE} mainly Republican, mainly Democrat, or about the same for each party?
01) Mainly Republican
02) About same for each
03) Mainly Democrat
99) Refusal
11c. Please stop me when I read the age group that contains your age…
01) 18-34
02) 35-44
03) 45-54
04) 55-64
05) 65-74
06) 75+
99) Refused
11d. How long have you lived in Chico: less than 5 years, 5 to 10 years, 11 to 20 years, or more than 20 years?
01) Less than 5
02) 5-10
03) 11-20
99) 20+
11e. Do you own or rent your home or apartment?
01) Own
02) Rent
99) Refusal
11f. Do you have any children that attend Chico public schools?
01) Yes
02) No
99) Refusal
This has been a confidential interview conducted by… Thank you very much for your time and have a good evening.
11g. Sex {BY OBSERVATION}
01) Male
02) Female
11h. Vote propensity {FROM SAMPLE}
11i. VBM – poll voter {FROM SAMPLE}
11j. Median neighborhood household income {FROM SAMPLE}
11k. Cell phone – land line {FROM SAMPLE}
Tags: Chico Taxpayers Association, City of Chico, sales tax increase, Tom Lando
Chico Taxpayers Association 