Full Text
EPIC ▪ MRA Otsego County Jail Millage Survey – SSA&B – April/May, 2007 [FREQUENCY REPORT of SURVEY RESPONSES – 300 SAMPLE – ERROR SEQUENCE: PHONE INTERVIEWER COUNTY_________ JURIS____________WARD____________PRECINCT Hello, this is (NAME) calling from EPIC ▪ MRA, a Lansing based survey research firm. We’re conducting a survey with voters in your area about important local issues. This is not a sales call, you will not be asked for a donation and you will not be called again because your household participated in a survey. This is strictly research and I’d like to take a few minutes to include the opinions of your household. We need to have a balance of men and women in this survey, and we also need to have young voters represented. May I please speak to the youngest [MALE/FEMALE, depending on quota specified on list] registered voter, aged 18 or older who is at home now? IF YES: REPEAT INTRO FOR NEW RESPONDENT & CONTINUE. IF NO, ASK: “Is there any other [MALE/FEMALE, as specified] registered voter, 18 years or older, who is at home right now?” IF NOT, TERMINATE INTERVIEW. Are you currently registered to vote at the address I am calling? IF YES GO TO Q. 01 IF NO “Is there another [MALE/FEMALE, as specified] registered voter at home who I can talk to?” If not, TERMINATE INTERVIEW. __01. Did you get a chance to vote in the November 2006 election when [ROTATE] Jennifer Granholm and Dick DeVos were running for Governor? How about in the 2004 election when [ROTATE] George W. Bush and John Kerry were running for President? 3% Yes, only in 2006 3% Yes, only in 2004 93% Yes, both 2006 & 2004 1% Too young to be eligible in either __02. Voter turnout in local government, school or special elections when bond, millage or tax related proposals are often voted on, is usually much lower than turnout for other elections. In fact, most people do not vote in these elections. How often do you vote in these kind of local or special elections all of the time, most of the time, half of the time, seldom or never? 48% All the time 33% Most of the time 7% About half of the time 8% Seldom ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 EPIC ▪ MRA Otsego County Jail Millage Survey SSA&B April/May, 2007 __03. Overall, do you think that Otsego County is headed in the right direction, or, do you think that things are pretty seriously off on the wrong track? 46% Wrong track 33% Right direction 21% Undecided/don’t know/refused __04. What would you say is the single, most important problem or issue facing the residents of your community that your local city, village, township, or county government must address? [WRITE COMMENT AS STATED] 47% Business closings/jobs 3% The economy 10% Schools 3% Traffic 7% New jail 1% Focus on residents/not tourists 7% Taxes 1% Land use 6% Budget/spending 1% Crime 4% Roads 2% Other 8% Undecided/don’t know __05. How would you rate the job that County government in Otsego County is doing providing basic services to the residents of the county? Would you give Otsego County a positive rating of excellent or pretty good, or a negative rating of only fair or poor? 11% excellent 63% pretty good 74% Total POSITIVE 23% just fair 2% poor 25% Total NEGATIVE GO TO Q. 07 1% Undecided/don’t know/refused GO TO Q. 08 __06. What stands out for you as the main reason why you gave Otsego County government a positive rating of (Excellent/Pretty good) for the job it does providing basic county services? [WRITE COMMENT AS STATED, THEN GO TO Q. 08] 27% Doing a good job 3% Room for improvement 26% Good services 2% Handle money well 11% Trying hard 2% Good police protection 6% Infrastructure/roads 2% Honesty 5% Emergency services 1% Public transportation 4% Snow removal 1% Other 4% Local programs 6% Undecided/don’t know ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 EPIC ▪ MRA Otsego County Jail Millage Survey SSA&B April/May, 2007 __07. What stands out for you as the main reason why you gave Otsego County Government a negative rating of (Only fair/Poor) for the job it does providing basic county services? [WRITE COMMENT AS STATED] 21% Poor leadership 5% Just average 12% Misspent money 5% Don’t listen to community 12% Poor services 4% Jail issue 9% Road commission 3% Poor trash pickup 7% Losing jobs 1% Traffic issues 7% Caters to tourists 14% Undecided/don’t know __08. Specifically, how would you rate the job that Otsego County does in managing county finances? Would you give Otsego County a positive rating of excellent or pretty good, or a negative rating of only fair or poor? 5% excellent 42% pretty good 47% Total POSITIVE 30% just fair 9% poor 39% Total NEGATIVE 14% Undecided/don’t know/refused In your opinion, which specific county service provided by Otsego County needs the most improvement? [WRITE COMMENT AS STATED] 3% None 1% Parks 24% Roads/commission 1% Snow plowing 8% Sheriffs department 1% Working together 6% Jail 1% Recycling 4% Creating jobs 1% Housing 3% Schools 1% Transportation 3% Using money better 1% Senior services 2% Taxes and fees 1% Sewers 2% Traffic 2% Other 1% Courthouse services 34% Undecided/don’t know ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 EPIC ▪ MRA Otsego County Jail Millage Survey SSA&B April/May, 2007 __10. When you think about the amount and quality of services you receive from Otsego County in return for the property taxes and fees you pay to fund those services, do you think your taxes and fees are too high, too low, or about right for what you get back in County services? [IF TOO HIGH, PROBE TO SEE IF MUCH OR SOMEWHAT TOO HIGH/LOW] 16% much too high 23% somewhat too high 39% Total TOO HIGH 56% About right Too low 5% Undecided/don’t know/refused __11. How serious a problem is crime in your community? Is it a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, only a minor problem or not really a problem at all? 7% very serious problem 35% somewhat serious problem 42% Total SERIOUS PROBLEM 43% only a minor problem 14% not really a problem at all 57% Total MINOR/NO PROBLEM 1% Undecided/don’t know/refused __12. Based on what you know or have heard or read about the County Jail, would you say that there is a prison overcrowding problem that requires more jail space, or, do you think the existing jail facility provides enough space to house the number of prisoners that serve jail sentences? 68% Overcrowding problem in the jail/needs more space 21% Existing jail facility provides enough space GO TO Q. 14 Too much space (volunteered) GO TO Q. 14 11% Undecided/don’t know/refused GO TO Q. 14 __13 a-b. What are the one or two most important things Otsego County can do to address the overcrowding problem in the jail? [WRITE COMMENT AS STATED FOR 2 RESPONSES] 38% Build new jail 2% Share facilities 13% Enlarge facility 2% Use tethers more 8% Better judgment in sentencing 2% Make jail more uncomfortable 7% Early release for lesser crimes 2% More communication of need 7% Send elsewhere 1% Use township hall for jail/build new hall 2% No inmates from other counties 1% Ask state to re-open prison 2% Crime prevention programs 1% Make prisoners pay 2% Reduce repeat offenders 1% Privatize 2% More community input 7% Undecided/don’t know ---PAGE BREAK--- 5 EPIC ▪ MRA Otsego County Jail Millage Survey SSA&B April/May, 2007 __14. On August 8th of last year, voters in Otsego County defeated four ballot proposals and approved one. A millage renewal for Parks and Recreation was approved, but proposals for a new jail, two I-75 crossovers, a addition, and a millage renewal for the operations of the were all defeated. Did you vote in that election, either by going to the polls, or by voting by absentee ballot, or, were you unable to vote in that election? [IF VOTED, PROBE TO SEE IF VOTED ABSENTEE OR GOING TO POLLS] 69% Voted by going to the polls 19% Voted by absentee ballot 11% Did not vote GO TO Q. 17 1% Can’t remember GO TO Q. 17 __15. Thinking specifically about the jail millage proposal, did you vote Yes in favor of that proposal or did you vote No to oppose it? 38% Voted Yes GO TO Q. 17 57% Voted No 2% Can’t remember (volunteered) GO TO Q. 17 3% Refused GO TO Q. 17 __16. What stands out for you as the main reason why you voted NO to oppose the proposal? [WRITE COMMENT AS STATED] 22% Too much money 7% Need other solution 20% Tax increase 4% Misuse of jail space 19% Too big of plan 3% Misspent money 13% Location 1% Poor management 10% Not needed 1% Undecided/don’t know __17. As you may know, the jail millage, if approved, would have funded the construction and operation of a 120 bed jail facility on the Alpine Center property, costing $13 million. The proposal would have required a property tax increase of 1.6 mills for 20 years, raising a total of $1.89 million per year to repay the bonds and to operate the jail. For the owner of an average home with a market value of $100,000 and a taxable value of $50,000, property taxes would increase by $80 per year. Based on what you know or have heard or read about the proposal, do you think most voters who opposed the jail millage did so because of the amount of the tax increase required, because they opposed the specific plan for the new jail, or, for some other reason? 51% Amount of the tax increase proposed 1% Too fancy 18% Specific plan proposed 1% County using scare tactics 4% Equally both above 1% Not needed 12% Location 1% Lack of information 5% Too many proposals at once 1% Other reason 5% Undecided/don’t know/refused ---PAGE BREAK--- 6 EPIC ▪ MRA Otsego County Jail Millage Survey SSA&B April/May, 2007 __18. As was indicated earlier, there were five separate tax issues on the ballot last August. Do you think having this number of tax questions on the ballot was a major factor in the defeat of the question on a millage for a new jail, a significant but not major factor, only a minor factor, or not a factor at all? 42% major factor 23% significant but not major 65% Total FACTOR 14% only a minor factor 18% not a factor at all 32% Total MINOR/NO FACTOR 3% Undecided/don’t know/refused If Otsego County placed the same jail millage on a future election ballot, they would try to keep it as the only proposal for voters to consider. If approved, it would provide funding for a new 120 bed jail facility at a cost of $13 million, requiring a property tax increase of 1.6 mills to be repaid over 20 years, raising a total of $1.89 million per year to repay the bonds for construction and to pay for operation of the jail. For the owner of an average home with a market value of $100,000 and a taxable value of $50,000, property taxes would increase by $80 per year. Based on what you know or have heard or read about the proposal, if the election were held today, would you vote Yes in favor of the proposal or No to oppose it? [IF UNDECIDED/DON’T KNOW] Well, if the election were held today and you had to decide right now, would lean toward voting YES in favor of the proposal or NO to oppose it. 35% vote yes 4% lean toward voting yes 39% Total YES 57% vote no lean toward voting no 57% Total NO 4% Undecided/don’t know/refused ---PAGE BREAK--- 7 EPIC ▪ MRA Otsego County Jail Millage Survey SSA&B April/May, 2007 SPLIT SAMPLE A Now I would like to read some of the reasons that have been made to SUPPORT a new jail millage, and then I will read some of the arguments made to OPPOSE the millage proposal. Putting aside how you said you would vote on the proposal when I asked you before in this survey, after I read each statement, please tell me if the statement I read is a very convincing reason, a somewhat convincing reason, or not a convincing reason at all to vote FOR the jail millage. If you are undecided or neutral about any statement, please say so and we will move on. [ROTATE Qs 20A TO 32A] CONVINCING very smwt Total Not Conv. undec _20A The current 34 bed county jail was built in 1967 when the population was 10,000 people. Today the population is almost 26,000 and in 2020, it will be 35,000 people. We have outgrown the current jail and need to build one for the future. 37% 32% 69% 30% 1% _21A The current jail is closer to St. Mary’s Elementary School than the proposed site at Alpine Center is to the high school. 13% 14% 27% 67% 6% _22A Senior citizens and others on a fixed income may not have their property taxes increased at all, or very little, if they apply for the homestead property tax exemption on their state income tax. 28% 24% 52% 44% 4% _23A While the current jail is designed for 34 prisoners, it normally has 45 to 58 prisoners housed there, and the ratio of felons to misdemeanor prisoners is 3 to 1, which means there is no space for people convicted of misdemeanors. 28% 25% 53% 43% 4% _24A There is not enough space to make sure hard core prisoners are separated from first time offenders, or young inmates are not housed with career criminals 44% 22% 66% 29% 5% _25A Currently, there are more than 1,000 arrest warrants outstanding – 128 of them for serious crimes – because there is not enough space in the county jail. 42% 21% 63% 33% 4% _26A The current jail only has space for four prisoners per cell, but each cell usually has 8 to 10 inmates in it, which creates conflict between prisoners and increases the danger for sheriffs deputies 43% 25% 68% 31% 1% _27A Because of the jail overcrowding condition, first-time and repeat offenders do not go to jail to pay for their crimes in Otsego County 32% 20% 52% 45% 3% ---PAGE BREAK--- 8 EPIC ▪ MRA Otsego County Jail Millage Survey SSA&B April/May, 2007 [ROTATE Qs 20A TO 32A] CONVINCING very smwt Total Not Conv. undec _28A By law the jail cannot continue to hold prisoners if jail population exceeds 34 prisoners for more than 10 days. This means that there have been early releases required for drug convictions, arson, drunk driving, fraud, bad checks, larceny, assault and battery, failure to register as a sex offender, and selling cocaine 51% 26% 77% 22% 1% _29A Public safety is diminished when people are not held accountable for their actions. The judicial system release many prisoners early, not as a result of good behavior, or completion of corrective programs, but because of lack of space 37% 32% 69% 27% 4% _30A The site at Alpine Center is the best location because it can be connected to the courts through a tunnel, which will greatly reduce the risk of escape, the county already owns the land, and essential services are already available 43% 22% 65% 34% 1% _31A The proposed new jail will have only one story above ground, which will appear to be a typical office building, it will not be visible from the high school and it is located further from that school than the St. Mary’s School building where the current jail is located. 31% 34% 65% 31% 4% _32A If we build a jail large enough to meet future needs through 2020, until we need all of the space, we will be able to rent jail space to surrounding counties, thereby reducing the cost of jail operations for taxpayers. 34% 24% 58% 39% 3% Thinking about the arguments in favor of the jail millage proposal, now I would like to ask you again how you would vote on the plan… __33A. The 120 bed jail facility would cost $13 million, requiring a property tax increase of 1.6 mills for 20 years to repay the bonds for construction and operation of the jail. For the owner of an average home with a market value of $100,000 and a taxable value of $50,000, property taxes would increase by $80 per year. Knowing this, if the election were held today, would you vote Yes in favor of the proposal or No to oppose it? [IF UNDECIDED/DON’T KNOW] Well, if the election were held today and you had to decide right now, would lean toward voting YES in favor of the proposal or NO to oppose it. 44% vote yes 2% lean toward voting yes 46% Total YES 50% vote no 1% lean toward voting no 51% Total NO 3% Undecided/don’t know/refused ---PAGE BREAK--- 9 EPIC ▪ MRA Otsego County Jail Millage Survey SSA&B April/May, 2007 You just heard the arguments in SUPPORT of the jail millage proposal. Now I would like to read some of the reasons people have given to OPPOSE it. Again, putting aside how you may have voted on the proposal before in this survey, after I read each statement, please tell me if that statement is a very convincing reason, a somewhat convincing reason, or not a convincing reason at all to vote NO on the jail millage. If you are undecided or neutral toward any statement, please say so and we’ll move on. [ROTATE Qs 34A TO 43A] CONVINCING very smwt Total Not Conv. undec _34A By voting against this bond proposal, my property taxes won’t go up. 27% 28% 55% 44% 1% _35A Instead of building a new jail, we should rely more on the use of alternative sentencing options so judges do not have to sentence as many people to jail 20% 28% 48% 50% 2% _36A With a continuing concern about the economy and layoffs, now is a bad time to consider a tax increase for any purpose 54% 27% 81% 18% 1% _37A The current jail can be expanded to house more prisoners, and it would solve the overcrowding problem for several years before we had to build a new jail, and this could be done for less money than a new jail 27% 35% 62% 33% 5% _38A As an alternative to a new prison the county could rent bed space from other counties for less cost than building a jail. 27% 31% 58% 39% 3% _39A With the state considering tax increases for roads and to balance the state budget, we really need to know where we stand on other taxes before increasing taxes for a new jail in Otsego County 44% 33% 77% 21% 2% _40A The proposed new jail will be too extravagant; we don’t need space for 120 beds since that’s twice the number of prisoners than when we have had our most severe overcrowding issues. 44% 23% 67% 33% _41A Why should taxpayers pay for the operation of a jail now when it will take at least a two or three years to build a new jail 21% 20% 41% 53% 6% _42A The proposed site at the Alpine Center is too close to the high school. 31% 18% 49% 48% 3% _43A The proposed site is not zoned for a correctional facility. Even though the zoning laws don’t apply to the county, they should still go through the full public process to rezone the land. 35% 24% 59% 35% 6% ---PAGE BREAK--- 10 EPIC ▪ MRA Otsego County Jail Millage Survey SSA&B April/May, 2007 __44A After hearing arguments both for and against the jail millage, let me ask you a final time: The 120 bed jail facility would cost $13 million, requiring a property tax increase of 1.6 mills for 20 years to repay the bonds for construction and operation of the jail. For the owner of an average home with a market value of $100,000 and a taxable value of $50,000, property taxes would increase by $80 per year. Knowing this, if the election were held today, would you vote Yes in favor of the proposal or No to oppose it? [IF UNDECIDED/DON’T KNOW] Well, if the election were held today and you had to decide right now, would lean toward voting YES in favor of the proposal or NO to oppose it. 43% vote yes 1% lean toward voting yes 44% Total YES GO TO Q. 47 51% vote no 2% lean toward voting no 53% Total NO 3% Undecided/don’t know/refused END SSA ---PAGE BREAK--- 11 EPIC ▪ MRA Otsego County Jail Millage Survey SSA&B April/May, 2007 SPLIT SAMPLE B Now I would like to read some of the reasons that have been made to OPPOSE a new jail millage, and then I will read some of the arguments made to SUPPORT the millage proposal. Putting aside how you said you would vote on the proposal when I asked you before in this survey, after I read each statement, please tell me if the statement I read is a very convincing reason, a somewhat convincing reason, or not a convincing reason at all to vote AGAINST the jail millage. If you are undecided or neutral about any statement, please say so and we will move on. [ROTATE Qs 20B TO 29B] CONVINCING very smwt Total Not Conv. undec _20B By voting against this bond proposal, my property taxes won’t go up. 23% 22% 45% 51% 4% _21B Instead of building a new jail, we should rely more on the use of alternative sentencing options so judges do not have to sentence as many people to jail 27% 29% 56% 40% 4% _22B With a continuing concern about the economy and layoffs, now is a bad time to consider a tax increase for any purpose 69% 23% 92% 6% 2% _23B The current jail can be expanded to house more prisoners, and it would solve the overcrowding problem for several years before we had to build a new jail, and this could be done for less money than a new jail 31% 33% 64% 33% 3% _24B As an alternative to a new prison the county could rent bed space from other counties for less cost than building a jail. 33% 28% 61% 36% 3% _25B With the state considering tax increases for roads and to balance the state budget, we really need to know where we stand on other taxes before increasing taxes for a new jail in Otsego County 48% 30% 78% 19% 3% _26B The proposed new jail will be too extravagant; we don’t need space for 120 beds since that’s twice the number of prisoners than when we have had our most severe overcrowding issues. 37% 26% 63% 32% 5% _27B Why should taxpayers pay for the operation of a jail now when it will take at least a two or three years to build a new jail 16% 23% 39% 57% 4% _28B The proposed site at the Alpine Center is too close to the high school. 46% 11% 57% 40% 3% _29B The proposed site is not zoned for a correctional facility. Even though the zoning laws don’t apply to the county, they should still go through the full public process to rezone the land. 36% 20% 56% 36% 8% ---PAGE BREAK--- 12 EPIC ▪ MRA Otsego County Jail Millage Survey SSA&B April/May, 2007 Thinking about the arguments against the jail millage proposal, now I would like to ask you again how you would vote on the plan… __30B. The 120 bed jail facility would cost $13 million, requiring a property tax increase of 1.6 mills for 20 years to repay the bonds for construction and operation of the jail. For the owner of an average home with a market value of $100,000 and a taxable value of $50,000, property taxes would increase by $80 per year. Knowing this, if the election were held today, would you vote Yes in favor of the proposal or No to oppose it? [IF UNDECIDED/DON’T KNOW] Well, if the election were held today and you had to decide right now, would lean toward voting YES in favor of the proposal or NO to oppose it. 30% vote yes lean toward voting yes 30% Total YES 67% vote no 1% lean toward voting no 68% Total NO 2% Undecided/don’t know/refused You just heard the arguments to OPPOSE the jail millage proposal. Now I would like to read some of the reasons people have given to SUPPORT it. Again, putting aside how you may have voted on the proposal before in this survey, after I read each statement, please tell me if that statement is a very convincing reason, a somewhat convincing reason, or not a convincing reason at all to vote YES on the jail millage. If you are undecided or neutral toward any statement, please say so and we’ll move on. [ROTATE Qs 31B TO 43B] CONVINCING very smwt Total Not Conv. undec _31B The current 34 bed county jail was built in 1967 when the population was 10,000 people. Today the population is almost 26,000 and in 2020, it will be 35,000 people. We have outgrown the current jail and need to build one for the future. 33% 28% 61% 37% 2% _32B The current jail is closer to St. Mary’s Elementary School than the proposed site at Alpine Center is to the high school. 22% 17% 39% 51% 10% _33B Senior citizens and others on a fixed income may not have their property taxes increased at all, or very little, if they apply for the homestead property tax exemption on their state income tax. 22% 21% 43% 52% 5% _34B While the current jail is designed for 34 prisoners, it normally has 45 to 58 prisoners housed there, and the ratio of felons to misdemeanor prisoners is 3 to 1, which means there is no space for people convicted of misdemeanors. 25% 27% 52% 41% 7% ---PAGE BREAK--- 13 EPIC ▪ MRA Otsego County Jail Millage Survey SSA&B April/May, 2007 [ROTATE Qs 31B TO 43B] CONVINCING very smwt Total Not Conv. undec _35B There is not enough space to make sure hard core prisoners are separated from first time offenders, or young inmates are not housed with career criminals 42% 21% 63% 31% 6% _36B Currently, there are more than 1,000 arrest warrants outstanding – 128 of them for serious crimes – because there is not enough space in the county jail. 40% 20% 60% 31% 9% _37B The current jail only has space for four prisoners per cell, but each cell usually has 8 to 10 inmates in it, which creates conflict between prisoners and increases the danger for sheriffs deputies 35% 32% 67% 31% 2% _38B Because of the jail overcrowding condition, first-time and repeat offenders do not go to jail to pay for their crimes in Otsego County 30% 28% 58% 35% 7% _39B By law the jail cannot continue to hold prisoners if jail population exceeds 34 prisoners for more than 10 days. This means that there have been early releases required for drug convictions, arson, drunk driving, fraud, bad checks, larceny, assault and battery, failure to register as a sex offender, and selling cocaine 41% 29% 70% 27% 3% _40B Public safety is diminished when people are not held accountable for their actions. The judicial system release many prisoners early, not as a result of good behavior, or completion of corrective programs, but because of lack of space 37% 34% 71% 22% 7% _41B The site at Alpine Center is the best location because it can be connected to the courts through a tunnel, which will greatly reduce the risk of escape, the county already owns the land, and essential services are already available 35% 29% 64% 35% 1% _42B The proposed new jail will have only one story above ground, which will appear to be a typical office building, it will not be visible from the high school and it is located further from that school than the St. Mary’s School building where the current jail is located. 29% 33% 62% 35% 3% _43B If we build a jail large enough to meet future needs through 2020, until we need all of the space, we will be able to rent jail space to surrounding counties, thereby reducing the cost of jail operations for taxpayers. 31% 28% 59% 38% 3% ---PAGE BREAK--- 14 EPIC ▪ MRA Otsego County Jail Millage Survey SSA&B April/May, 2007 __44B After hearing arguments both for and against the jail millage, let me ask you a final time: The 120 bed jail facility would cost $13 million, requiring a property tax increase of 1.6 mills for 20 years to repay the bonds for construction and operation of the jail. For the owner of an average home with a market value of $100,000 and a taxable value of $50,000, property taxes would increase by $80 per year. Knowing this, if the election were held today, would you vote Yes in favor of the proposal or No to oppose it? [IF UNDECIDED/DON’T KNOW] Well, if the election were held today and you had to decide right now, would lean toward voting YES in favor of the proposal or NO to oppose it. 33% vote yes 3% lean toward voting yes 36% Total YES GO TO Q. 47 59% vote no 3% lean toward voting no 62% Total NO 2% Undecided/don’t know/refused END SSA ---PAGE BREAK--- 15 EPIC ▪ MRA Otsego County Jail Millage Survey SSA&B April/May, 2007 “NO”/UNDECIDED IN FINAL TEST AFTER ALL ARGUMENTS __45. If there is not enough support for a new jail with 120 beds, the County may place a bond proposal on a future election ballot to fund the construction and operation of a smaller facility that would have space for 80 beds to address immediate overcrowding problems, but be built so that it could be easily and economically expanded to accommodate any future population growth. This $10.5 million plan would require property taxes to be increased by 1.6 mills to repay the construction bonds over 15 years. Knowing that for the owner of an average home with a market value of $100,000 and a taxable value of $50,000, property taxes would increase by $80 per year – if the election were held today, would you vote Yes in favor of the bond proposal or No to oppose it? [IF UNDECIDED/DON’T KNOW] Well, if the election were held today and you had to decide right now, would lean toward voting YES in favor of the proposal or NO to oppose it. 12% vote yes 7% lean toward voting yes 19% Total YES GO TO Q. 47 72% vote no 3% lean toward voting no 75% Total NO 6% Undecided/don’t know/refused __46. If there is not enough support for any new jail construction, the County may place a bond proposal on a future election ballot to fund the operation, expansion and improvement of the current jail to a 66 bed facility at a cost of $5.2 million. Property taxes would be increased by 1.4 mills to repay the bonds over 10 years. Knowing that for the owner of an average home with a market value of $100,000 and a taxable value of $50,000, property taxes would increase by $70 per year – if the election were held today, would you vote Yes in favor of the bond proposal or No to oppose it? [IF UNDECIDED/DON’T KNOW] Well, if the election were held today and you had to decide right now, would lean toward voting YES in favor of the proposal or NO to oppose it. 16% vote yes 4% lean toward voting yes 20% Total YES 69% vote no 4% lean toward voting no 73% Total NO 7% Undecided/don’t know/refused ---PAGE BREAK--- 16 EPIC ▪ MRA Otsego County Jail Millage Survey SSA&B April/May, 2007 COMBINED AND EXTRAPOLATED RESULTS COMBINED RESULTS Q44 A&B FINAL TEST AFTER ALL ARGUMENTS After hearing arguments both for and against the jail millage, let me ask you a final time: The 120 bed jail facility would cost $13 million, requiring a property tax increase of 1.6 mills for 20 years to repay the bonds for construction and operation of the jail. For the owner of an average home with a market value of $100,000 and a taxable value of $50,000, property taxes would increase by $80 per year. Knowing this, if the election were held today, would you vote Yes in favor of the proposal or No to oppose it? 38% vote yes 2% lean toward voting yes 40% Total YES GO TO Q. 47 55% vote no 2% lean toward voting no 57% Total NO 3% Undecided/don’t know/refused EXTRAPOLATED RESULTS Q44 A&B FINAL TEST AFTER ALL ARGUMENTS & Q 45 If there is not enough support for a new jail with 120 beds, the County may place a bond proposal on a future election ballot to fund the construction and operation of a smaller facility that would have space for 80 beds to address immediate overcrowding problems, but be built so that it could be easily and economically expanded to accommodate any future population growth. This $10.5 million plan would require property taxes to be increased by 1.6 mills to repay the construction bonds over 15 years. Knowing that for the owner of an average home with a market value of $100,000 and a taxable value of $50,000, property taxes would increase by $80 per year – if the election were held today, would you vote Yes in favor of the bond proposal or No to oppose it? 45% vote yes 6% lean toward voting yes 51% Total YES GO TO Q. 47 43% vote no 2% lean toward voting no 45% Total NO 4% Undecided/don’t know/refused ---PAGE BREAK--- 17 EPIC ▪ MRA Otsego County Jail Millage Survey SSA&B April/May, 2007 Q44A&B & Q45 & Q 46 If there is not enough support for any new jail construction, the County may place a bond proposal on a future election ballot to fund the operation, expansion and improvement of the current jail to a 66 bed facility at a cost of $5.2 million. Property taxes would be increased by 1.4 mills to repay the bonds over 10 years. Knowing that for the owner of an average home with a market value of $100,000 and a taxable value of $50,000, property taxes would increase by $70 per year – if the election were held today, would you vote Yes in favor of the bond proposal or No to oppose it? 53% vote yes 8% lean toward voting yes 61% Total YES GO TO Q. 47 33% vote no 2% lean toward voting no 35% Total NO 4% Undecided/don’t know/refused ---PAGE BREAK--- 18 EPIC ▪ MRA Otsego County Jail Millage Survey SSA&B April/May, 2007 ALL RESPONDENTS __47. Where would you say you get most of your information about the activities of Otsego County government? [DO NOT READ CODE UP TO TWO RESPONSES] 49% Gaylord Herald Times 1% The Weekly Choice Other local newspaper 12% Television coverage of the county 9% Radio coverage of the county 1% Commission meetings on cable 1% Newsletters from the county 24% Comments from friends/word of mouth Finally, there are a few questions for statistical purposes only. How many years have you lived in Otsego County? [DO NOT READ CODE RESPONSES] 10% 5 years or less 19% 6 to 10 years 12% 11 to 15 years 14% 16 to 25 years 36% Over 25 years 9% All their life (volunteered) How many school age children, age 18 years or younger, are living in your household? [DO NOT READ CODE RESPONSE] 9% One 13% Two or more 77% None/No children 1% Undecided/don’t know/refused Could you please tell me in what year you were born? [RECORD YEAR HERE AND THEN CODE BELOW] 2% 18 to 24 years (1983 to 1989) 2% 25 to 29 years (1978 to 1982) 4% 30 to 35 (1972 to 1977) 3% 36 to 40 (1967 to 1971) 14% 41 to 49 (1958 to 1966) 12% 50 to 55 (1952 to 1957) 23% 56 to 64 (1943 to 1951) 39% 65 and over (1942 or before) 1% Undecided/don’t know/refused ---PAGE BREAK--- 19 EPIC ▪ MRA Otsego County Jail Millage Survey SSA&B April/May, 2007 __51. What is the last grade or level of schooling you completed? (DO NOT READ – CODE RESPONSE) 4% 1st to 11th grade 26% High school graduate 2% Non-college post high school (technical training) 27% Some college 30% College graduate 10% Post graduate school 1% Undecided/don’t know/refused __52. Would you please tell me into which of the following categories your total yearly household income falls including everyone in the household? Please stop me when I get to the category that applies to you? (READ LIST 1 to 5) 16% Under $25,000 26% $25,000 to $50,000 22% $50,000 to $75,000 13% $75,000 to $100,000 7% Over $100,000 1% Retired 15% Undecided/don’t know/refused __53. Sex of respondent (DO NOT ASK BY OBSERVATION ONLY) 49% Male 51% Female THANK RESPONDENT FOR HIS OR HER TIME AND TERMINATE [IF ASKED WHO COMMISSIONED SURVEY, INFORM RESPONDENT ONLY AFTER COMPLETING THE INTERVIEW: “This survey was commissioned by Otsego County.”