City Budget Recommendations - Neighborhood Associations

Number of records in this survey: 884

1. To what extent are you aware of the City's budget situation?
Answer	Count	Percentage
Aware of the details	444	50.23%
Don't know the details	350	39.59%
Not aware of situation	58	6.56%
Non completed or Not displayed	32	3.62%

2. How important to our residents and/or to your neighborhood is the City's financial situation?
Answer	Count	Percentage
Critical	343	38.80%
Important	445	50.34%
Somewhat important	55	6.22%
Not important	2	0.23%
Other	7	0.79%
Non completed or Not displayed	32	3.62%

3. If you were in the City Manager's chair, what approach to reducing expenses would you likely take?
Answer	Count	Percentage
Across the board cuts in all departments (includes police, fire, streets) - $38.5 million	208	23.53%
Strategic cuts resulting in reduction of public services - $23 million	217	24.55%
Significant reductions or elimination of non-critical services (i.e., libraries, economic development, senior citizens assistance) - $35.7 million	155	17.53%
Smaller reductions or elimination of non-critical services - $9.4 million	201	22.74%
Non completed or Not displayed	103	11.65%

4. Please indicate the top 3 expense areas you would reduce to help balance the 2011 budget. (Some areas have been grouped for the purpose of this survey.)
Answer	Count	Percentage
Police	55	6.22%
Fire	42	4.75%
Planning, zoning and development	187	21.15%
Libraries, parks, community centers, etc.	120	13.57%
Road construction, street repairs	48	5.43%
Facility maintenance	136	15.38%
City code enforcement, animal care and control	160	18.10%
Municipal court services	95	10.75%
Economic and community development programs (SQ009)	271	30.66%
Resident communication / customer service (SQ010)	127	14.37%
Administrative services - financial management, legal, human resources (SQ011)	336	38.01%
Pension contributions to City employees' retirement funds (SQ012)	235	26.58%
New vehicle purchases (SQ013)	532	60.18%

5. If you were in the City Manager's chair, what approach to increasing revenues would you take?
Answer	Count	Percentage
Across the board – consider property tax increase, reducing or eliminating homestead exemptions, using rainy day funds and gas well revenues. – up to $105 million	194	21.95%
Use only tax-related options that can be applied to both operating budget and debt service (funds would be ongoing, i.e. property tax increase, homestead elimination / reductions) – up to $39.2 million	80	9.05%
No tax increases. Use some or all of available rainy day funds, gas well revenues. (note: only available for one year) -- up to $66.4 million)	507	57.35%
Non completed or Not displayed	103	11.65%

6. Please indicate the top 3 revenue options you would consider to help balance the 2011 budget.
Answer	Count	Percentage
Raise property taxes by 2 cents	145	16.40%
Raise property taxes by 4 cents	47	5.32%
Reduce homestead exemption (does not include senior tax freeze, over 65 or disabled)	85	9.62%
Eliminate homestead exemption (does not include senior tax freeze, over 65 or disabled)	23	2.60%
Use rainy day funds that exceed required reserve balances	497	56.22%
Use gas well revenue from property tax on minerals	607	68.67%
Use gas well revenue from bonuses, royalties and pipeline licenses	669	75.68%
Transportation user / developer impact fees	274	31.00%

7. Years you have lived in Fort Worth
Answer	Count	Percentage
0-10	198	22.40%
10-25	191	21.61%
25-40	189	21.38%
Over 40	175	19.80%
Non completed or Not displayed	131	14.82%

8. In which City Council district do you reside?
Answer	Count	Percentage
District 2 – Sal Espino	107	12.10%
District 3 – Zim Zimmerman	179	20.25%
District 4 – Danny Scarth	53	6.00%
District 5 – Frank Moss	11	1.24%
District 6 – Jungus Jordan	97	10.97%
District 7 – Carter Burdette	102	11.54%
District 8 – Kathleen Hicks	48	5.43%
District 9 – Joel Burns	135	15.27%
Non completed or Not displayed	152	17.19%

9. Please indicate your neighborhood association.
Answer	730	82.58%
No answer	1	0.11%
Non completed or Not displayed	153	17.31%