Resident Input on Municipal Budget Priorities

Welcome to the Municipal Budget Priorities Survey. This survey collects your input on city services and how public funds should be allocated. Your responses will help inform budget decisions for the upcoming fiscal year. • Participation is voluntary and you may stop at any time. • There are no right or wrong answers—we want your honest opinions. • All responses are anonymous and will be reported only in aggregate. • Estimated completion time: 5–7 minutes. Please proceed to begin.

Which best describes your connection to [Municipality Name]?

• I live in the municipality
• I own property here but live elsewhere
• I work or study here but live elsewhere
• I do not live, work, or study here

In the past 12 months, which city services did you personally use? Select all that apply.

• Parks or recreation programs
• Public library
• Transit or paratransit
• Recreation center or pool
• Street maintenance requests (e.g., pothole repair)
• Public safety services (non-emergency)
• Other (please specify)
• None of the above

Please rank the following areas the city should prioritize over the next two years, from highest to lowest priority.

1. Public safety
2. Street and road maintenance
3. Affordable housing
4. Parks and recreation
5. Public transit
6. Economic development

Based on your responses in this survey, what specific projects or service improvements do you think should be funded in the next budget cycle?

What is your age group?

• Under 18
• 18–24
• 25–34
• 35–44
• 45–54
• 55–64
• 65–74
• 75 or older
• Prefer not to say

Thank you for completing this survey. Your input will directly inform budget decisions for the upcoming fiscal year. Summary results will be shared publicly on the municipality's website.

Overall, how satisfied are you with the quality of the city services you have used in the past 12 months?

If a property tax increase of about 2–3% were proposed to maintain current service levels, to what extent would you support or oppose it?

We'd like to learn more about your budget priorities. An AI moderator will ask a few brief follow-up questions based on your earlier responses.

How do you describe your gender? Select all that apply.

• Woman
• Man
• Non-binary
• Prefer to self-describe
• Prefer not to say

When balancing the city's budget, which approach do you most prefer?

• Increase taxes to maintain or improve services
• Reduce service levels to avoid tax increases
• Use reserves short-term while creating a long-term plan
• A combination of the above approaches
• Unsure / need more information

What is the highest level of education you have completed?

• Some high school
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college or associate degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Graduate or professional degree
• Prefer not to say

What is your current employment status? Select all that apply.

• Employed full-time
• Employed part-time
• Self-employed
• Unemployed, looking for work
• Unemployed, not looking for work
• Student
• Retired
• Unable to work
• Caregiver or homemaker
• Prefer not to say

Which best describes your current housing situation?

• Own my home
• Rent
• Live with family or roommates without paying rent
• Temporary housing
• Currently unhoused
• Prefer not to say

Which area of the municipality do you consider home?

• North
• South
• East
• West
• Central / Downtown
• Across multiple areas
• Outside the municipality
• Prefer not to say