2004 City Budget Allocation Survey January 2004

Since 1997, tracking of City of Vancouver residents’ attitudes on: Main local issues of concern Perceptions of City services Fiscal options for managing the City budget Services funding priorities Taxation alternatives Research Objectives

Methodology 600 random telephone interviews (±4% margin of error) Residents 18 years of age & over Representation of all City regions Alternate language interviewing Quality controls: Random selection of households and individual within household Up to 5 call attempts to reduce non-response bias Matching age/gender/region to 2001 Census Conducted January 12-22, 2004

Most Important Issues Facing Vancouver

Most Important Issues Facing Vancouver

Perceptions of City of Vancouver Services

Perceptions of City Services Majority of residents continue to be satisfied with City services Opinion is divided about perceived change in quality of City services over past few years Perceived value of City services is skewed positive (good value vs. poor value)

Fiscal Options for Managing City Budget

Support for Broad Fiscal Management Options User fees still most popular option

Preference for Dealing with the Budget Shortfall Continued preference for a “mixed approach” to deal with shortfall

Preferred Method for Making Service Cuts Leave some areas alone if making service cuts

Continued Support and Preference for User Fees Continued support for higher user fees to pay for “other” City services Preference for user fees vs. raising property taxes to cover costs of SOME services (2:1) User fees widely preferred over cutting services for SOME services (almost 6:1)

Taxation Alternatives

Opinion on Property Taxes - Among Homeowners Perception of current tax balanced between “too high” & “about right”

Willingness to Pay Property Tax Increases Property Tax Increase Support for property tax increases – tested at 3 levels

Will Pay Extra $3 Rent to Maintain Current Service Levels Renters support a $3/month rent increase to maintain City services

Service Priorities

% Considering City Services Very Important Policing is the most important service followed by fire protection

% Ranking Services as Top Priorities Ranked in Top 3 Policing is top priority, second are community services & fire protection

Summary

Crime continues as top issue that residents want given Council’s attention. Thus, the continued high priority for policing. Social issues, homelessness in particular, have come to the forefront, equaling transportation as a concern and high priority. Most residents continue to be satisfied with the quality of City services and homeowners tend to perceive good value for their tax dollar. Conclusions

User fees continue to be the most popular alternative fiscal management option. Generally more resistance to service cuts and if needed, cuts should be limited to some areas, not across all areas. People prefer a mixed approach, balancing tax increases and service cuts. Conclusions, cont.

Broad support for a 2% property tax increase among homeowners and majority support a 4% increase, but greater resistance at 6%. Owners of lower-value homes are more cost sensitive this year. Renters continue to support small rent increase to maintain current service levels. The public appears to have a great appreciation of the services they receive with resistance to cuts. Conclusions, cont.

Thank you! Presented by: Jami Koehl, Principal Mustel Group Market Research