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Prepared by RBI Strategies & Research April 2008

Community Visioning Survey El Paso County Colorado Prepared by RBI Strategies & Research April 2008 Methodology 502 telephone interviews were conducted among El Paso County Residents over the age of 18. The margin of error for the sample is +/-4.35% at the 95% confidence level.

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Prepared by RBI Strategies & Research April 2008

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  1. Community Visioning Survey El Paso County Colorado Prepared by RBI Strategies & Research April 2008

  2. Methodology • 502 telephone interviews were conducted among El Paso County Residents over the age of 18. • The margin of error for the sample is +/-4.35% at the 95% confidence level. • The survey was conducted March 24-28, 2008. • At times in this analysis, we compare results in this survey with surveys conducted by Global Strategy Group in 2002 and 2004, and by RBI Strategies in 2006.

  3. Summary of Findings • Residents of El Paso County remain extremely pleased with their quality of life and the direction things are moving locally. Despite a major downturn nationally (April CBS/NYT survey shows national wrong track at 81%) 63% of El Paso County residents say things are headed in the right direction, and only 9% rate the local quality of life as anything other than excellent or good. • Although traffic remains an important local issue for voters, it has fallen sharply as the one issue they are most worried about. As in 2006, growth is ranked as the single biggest issue facing the City and County. • The cost of health remains the top concern of voters, with 71% saying they are “very concerned” about health care costs. • Opinion towards schools has improved since 2006, with an overall grade of just under a “B” and slightly more voters feeling they are getting better rather than worse. • City & County residents believe local government lacks the funding to deliver the services they expect out of it, yet they continue to believe that the problems facing the community can be solved without raising taxes, and trust local government the most to deal with their top issues. • Residents rate having a tolerant and accepting community very highly, and generally believe the Colorado Springs area is at least somewhat tolerant. • Church and the Internet are tied as the top source residents use to see how to get more involved in the community.

  4. Quality of Life Rated Extremely High How would you rate the overall quality of life in the City and County? Who said excellent? * Areas other than C.S. (39%) * Republicans (41%) * Advance Degree (39%) * $75k-150k (45%) * Works at home (48%)

  5. More Residents Rated the Quality of Life as “Excellent” than in 2006 How would you rate the overall quality of life in your city and county?

  6. Strong Majority Believe Area is Heading in the Right Direction Would you say things in the City and County are headed in the right direction, or are they off on the wrong track? • Those who said right direction: • Income of $75k - 150k (71%) • Lives outside C.S. (71%) • Republicans (70%) • Active/retired military family (74%)

  7. Growth is the Dominant Local Issue for County Residents In your opinion, what is the most important issue or problem facing the City and County? (OPEN ENDED RESPONSES WITH CODES)

  8. DEMOGRAPHICS ON TOP ISSUE • Growth was named as the number one issue for every demographic group except age 18-34 and those making under $25k per year, both of whom named Crime as their top local issue. • Those most concerned with Growth are college graduates (24%), those making $50-$74k per year (32%), non Colorado Springs residents (25%) and middle-aged residents (25%). • Crime edged out Streets/Highways/Roads for second place. Crime has some major demographic splits, as 14% of those without a college degree named it their top issue, compared to only 6% of those with a college degree. • Those living outside of Colorado Springs are almost twice as likely as those living in the Springs to name Streets as their top issue. • A close second issue for seniors was Water, with 14%. • Although schools/education does not score well as the top issue (6%) it is tied with streets/roads for second choice (11%). Younger voters and women drive that second choice response.

  9. Traffic Dropped Sharply as Top Local Issue; Streets/Roads, Crime, Taxes Increased In your opinion, what is the most important issue or problem facing the City and County?

  10. City &County Residents Most Likely to Trust Local Government In general, when it comes to addressing important community issues, who are you most likely to trust? What has changed? Since 2006, Government is up 6%. There was almost no change in the other categories. Who trusts government? * Over age 65 (39%) * Democrats (37%) * Over $75k income (43%) Who trusts charities? * Democrats (12%) Who trusts religious orgs? * Republicans (29%) * HS or less education (24%) * Active military (26%)

  11. Health Care Costs Tops List of Major Concerns I’m going to read you a list of issues. For each one, please tell me how concerned you are about that issue. (% responding “very concerned”) 11

  12. Lower Rated Issues I’m going to read you a list of issues. For each one, please tell me how concerned you are about that issue. (% responding “very concerned”)

  13. Comparison to 2006 – Health Care and Affordable Housing Up, Others Down I’m going to read you a list of issues. For each one, please tell me how concerned you are about that issue. (% responding “very concerned”) 13

  14. Favorability of Local Leaders and Organizations For the following people or organizations, please tell me if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of them. If you have never heard of them, please feel free to say so. Fav Ratio 2.00 1.65 3.71

  15. Public Support for Organizations and Officials Similar to 2006

  16. Public Gives Schools a B-; More Believe Schools are Getting Better • How would you grade your area’s public schools? • Do you think your public schools are getting better or worse? 32% 27%

  17. Residents Strongly Favor Greater Cooperation Between City & County Governments In general, do you believe our city and county governments should seek a more coordinated, cooperative relationship with each other, or would it be better for them to have a fair amount of autonomy? 75% Those most likely to say coordinated, strongly are: * Women: 59% * Republicans: 56% * $150k+ income: 70% * 20+ year residents: 60% Colorado Springs residents were slightly more likely to say cooperative (77%) than those who live outside the City (70%). 17%

  18. Local Residents Still Believe Community Growing Too Fast, Although Down from 2006 How would you assess the rate of growth in your community?

  19. Majority of Residents Believe Government Lacks Necessary Resources In your opinion, does local government have the funding necessary to adequately provide the services you expect to deliver? 54% Women 61% Democrats 61% Under $25k 61% 20+ year residents 60% 38%

  20. More Residents View TABOR as a Positive than a Negative Would you say that TABOR, the taxpayer’s bill of rights, has had a positive or negative impact on the community? 55+ (39%) Republicans (37%) Men (40%) Post-Grad (32%) Democrats (40%) $50k or higher (33%)

  21. TABOR Popularity Down Slightly from 2006; Still a Household Word for Most Would you say that TABOR, the taxpayer’s bill of rights, has had a positive or negative impact on the community? Even three years after the C&D campaign, TABOR remains a well-known commodity among County residents.

  22. Most Believe Tax Increase is Unnecessary to Solve Local Problems In general, do you believe that the problems facing the community can be solved with or without an increase in local taxes? The percentage favoring a tax increase is up from 30% in 2006. 58% 36%

  23. Seniors, Lower Income Residents Feeling Economic Squeeze“Please rate each of these on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being very poor, and a 10 being excellent. How would you rate your families current economic health? Your families economic health one year ago?” -.18 -.09 -.33 -.43 -.01 -.56 -.17 -.03

  24. Upper Income Residents See Drop in Economic Health of the Community“Please rate each of these on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being very poor, and a 10 being excellent. How would you rate the current economic health of the community? The economic health of the community one year ago?” -.63 -.64 -.63 -.88 -.45 -.48 -.60 -.80

  25. Community Worried About Cost and Access of Health Care for Seniors“What do you think is the major issue seniors 60 and older face? Is it…” Residents aged 65+ put cost of health care slightly lower (27%) but were otherwise similar to the overall population.

  26. Residents Rate Tolerance as Important, Consider Area “Somewhat” Tolerant Minorities are most likely to rate tolerance as important (67%) and least likely to say that the community is “very” tolerant (18%). Others who give the area low ratings for tolerance are 20+ year residents (20%), women (23%), and Democrats (12%).

  27. Church and Internet Leading Ways for Residents to Seek Community Information“Where are you most likely to turn to seek information about how to get more involved in the local community?

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