Douglas County reveals 2017 citizen survey results
Information provided by Douglas County
Consistent with the Board of Douglas County Commissioners’ commitment to open, transparent and accountable government, the Board retained consultants to conduct an independent survey of Douglas County voters. The survey assessed voter satisfaction with delivery of County services and requested input on the Board’s spending priorities and quality of life issues, as well as trust and familiarity with County government.
“Our Board is united in our belief that a quantifiable, representative sample of public opinion from our communities helps inform the Board’s decision-making,” said Douglas County Commissioner and Board Chair Roger Partridge.
Regarding the Board’s investment of public money, when asked to consider spending levels among the Board’s core priorities – economic foundations, health and human services, historic and natural resources, public safety, and transportation – 51 percent of respondents selected historic and natural resources as their top choice to spend more. Tied for second as the choice for additional spending were public safety and transportation, both questions tied at 46 percent of respondents selecting “spend more.”
Regarding growth and traffic congestion, Douglas County voters share common ground with citizens throughout the Denver Front Range. The survey revealed that 81 percent agree with the statement: “Douglas County is growing too fast.” Additionally, the percentage of County residents who agree with the statement “Traffic congestion across the County seems to be improving” has fallen to 27 percent, the lowest level since the first survey in 2006 and 21 points below the recorded data in the 2014 citizen survey.
Bearing witness to citizen traffic concerns, when asked if they would prefer to receive property tax relief (like the 2016 tax credit of $16 per household) again in this year, a 59 percent majority said they are willing to give up the property tax credit and direct the total, combined revenue of more than $3 million to other County needs. The top cited spending priority for these dollars – in an unaided follow-up question – was transportation uses, including roads, bridges and traffic congestion relief.
Read the full disclosure of the 2017 citizen survey findings at www.douglas.co.us/government/commissioners/transparency and the complete press release at www.douglas.co.us.
