September 25, 2019 Page 1 of 31 Meeting Date: September 25, 2019 Submitted by: Tiffany Farrell, Director of Corporate Services Report No: CPS-68-2019 Subject: Budget Survey Results Recommendation: That the budget survey results report be received . Purpose: To provide Council with information following the 2020 Budget engagement initiatives, specifically the budget survey published in August 2019. Background: In 2019 staff has been focusing on implementing ways to engage our residents in the municipal budget creation for 2020. In August staff created an interactive online survey, in which the result is being presented to Council. Analysis: The budget survey was posted to the Municipal website in August 2019 and the municipality received 311 responses. Over 85% of respondents thought the services they received were either fair, good or excellent, compared to 79% last year. Information obtained in the municipal survey will be included in the creation of the 2020 budget. Financial Implications: N/A Strategic Plan: This matter aligns with following strategic priorities:
September 25, 2019 Page 2 of 31 • 4b. Community & Neighbourhood Preservation: Promoting a sense of community engagement, pride, and belonging. • 5a. Operational Excellence: Maintaining positive staff-community relations. • C Attachments: A1 Budget Survey Results
September 25, 2019 Page 3 of 31 Tiffany Farrell, CPA, CA Director of Corporate Services Presentation to Municipal Council | September 25, 2019
September 25, 2019 Page 4 of 31 Developed with input from staff, council and the public ◦ Survey is one component of public input ◦ Further opportunity for discussion at public information sessions Sept 11 – asset management Sept 25 – property tax and MPAC 2
September 25, 2019 Page 5 of 31 Opened to public in August Online via Survey Monkey platform Advertised through social media, residents e-newsletter, website Received 311 responses ◦ 203 responses in 2018 ◦ 89 responses in 2017 3
September 25, 2019 Page 6 of 31 10 questions total Most questions outlined services and their costs, and then asked residents if the services should be: ◦ enhanced ◦ maintained ◦ reduced ◦ unsure or doesn’t matter 1 question provided opportunity for suggestion or comment 2 questions related to community 4
September 25, 2019 Page 7 of 31 Geographic Distribution of Results 5
September 25, 2019 Page 8 of 31 Q10 - Where in Middlesex Centre do you live? Answered: 266 Skipped: 45 6
September 25, 2019 Page 9 of 31 # of surveys % of survey Ward Electors % of Electors received* total by ward 1 3,172 26% 100 38% 2 1,866 15% 20 8% 3 1,944 16% 50 19% 4 3,513 28% 70 27% 5 1,840 15% 22 8% *where survey respondent indicated ward 7
September 25, 2019 Page 10 of 31 Q11 - Would you describe your home as being in a rural or urban setting? Answered: 265 Skipped: 46 8
September 25, 2019 Page 11 of 31 Support for Service Costs 9
September 25, 2019 Page 12 of 31 Q1 - In 2019, the average homeowner will pay $724 in municipal taxes to support public works and engineering . This includes: - roads maintenance (including winter snow clearing) - waste management - municipal drainage Should this service be: Answered: 311 Skipped: 0 10
September 25, 2019 Page 13 of 31 Q2 - In 2019, the average homeowner will pay will pay $470 in municipal taxes to support programs that protect people and property. These programs include: - policing = $257 - fire services = $175 - CAs = $32 - by-law enforcement = $6 - building = $0 Should this service be: Answered: 301 Skipped: 10 11
September 25, 2019 Page 14 of 31 Q3 - In 2019, the average homeowner will pay $195 in municipal taxes to support Community Services. Should this service be: Answered: 294 Skipped: 17 12
September 25, 2019 Page 15 of 31 Q4 - In 2019, the average homeowner will pay $196 in municipal taxes to support General Government Services. Should this service be: Answered: 288 Skipped: 23 13
September 25, 2019 Page 16 of 31 Q5 - This year, the average homeowner will pay $127 in municipal taxes to cover operational costs for maintaining the municipal fleet. This includes fuel, oil, repairs and maintenance, fleet software costs, and salaries. Should this service be: Answered: 285 Skipped: 26 14
September 25, 2019 Page 17 of 31 Q6 - In 2019, the average homeowner will pay $400 in municipal taxes to support municipal capital projects. Should this service be: Answered: 282 Skipped: 29 15
September 25, 2019 Page 18 of 31 Image: https://www.strathroy-caradoc.ca Support for Hospital Capital Donation 16
September 25, 2019 Page 19 of 31 Q7 - Would you support a municipal donation to the Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital Foundation to support capital purchases for the hospital? Answered: 282 Skipped: 29 17
September 25, 2019 Page 20 of 31 Overall Value for Tax Dollars 18
September 25, 2019 Page 21 of 31 Q8 - How would you rate the overall value received for your Municipality of Middlesex Centre tax dollars? Remember, your annual tax bill is made up of taxes from Middlesex Centre, Middlesex County and taxes paid to your preferred school board. Answered: 281 Skipped: 30 19
September 25, 2019 Page 22 of 31 Over 85% of respondents thought the services they received were either fair, good or excellent, compared to 79% last year. High Five to the Municipal employees and Council! 20
September 25, 2019 Page 23 of 31 Suggestions and Comments 21
September 25, 2019 Page 24 of 31 178 respondents More than 200 suggestions/responses owing to multiple comments per person Responding to Comments: ◦ All comments compiled and provided to departments for response (grouped into topic areas). ◦ Response document will be posted to website with this presentation. Overview follows. 22
September 25, 2019 Page 25 of 31 Several of the suggestions dealt with issues outside of municipal control: ◦ Education ◦ Social Services (support for seniors, seniors housing, opioid crisis) ◦ Concerns related to County Roads (widening, crosswalks, safety) Where appropriate, these issues will be shared with lead agency or government department. 23
September 25, 2019 Page 26 of 31 Middlesex Centre has the second lowest tax rate in the County. Middlesex County Residential Tax Rates Comparison (2018) 1.80% 1.59% 1.60% 1.37% 1.35% 1.40% 1.25% 1.22% 1.18% 1.20% 1.14% 1.01% 1.00% 0.80% 0.60% 0.40% 0.20% 0.00% Middlesex Centre Adelaide Metcalfe Lucan-Biddulph Newbury North Middlesex Southwest Middlesex Strathroy-Caradoc Thames Centre 24
September 25, 2019 Page 27 of 31 Middlesex Centre is simply not a large enough municipality to support our own pool. Typically, communities need to have a population of 40,000 or higher to justify the need for a pool. An indoor pool typically loses approximately a half a million dollars annually and are considered ‘loss leaders’. Council could approve to move forward with one however we would need to be prepared to lose money on it. Costs are high due to: The legislative requirement to waste 20 litres of water per bather per day as per the health code. I.e. if you had 500 bathers in one day you legally need to dump 10,000 litres that day as required by the health department which then needs to be heated and conditioned. Lifeguarding costs are high due to the ratios required by the health department. Costs to maintain over and above the need to lose water each day. Pools generate a lot of hydro to heat, dehumidify and run filter pumps etc. Pools are extremely expensive to construct and maintain over their lifetime. With St Mary’s, City of London and YMCA facilities not that far away there really isn’t a need at this time. 25
September 25, 2019 Page 28 of 31 The need for a dog park was presented to the community services advisory committee. As a result, a fenced dog park is tentatively included in the 2020 budget (this will be pending council approval). There are a few possible locations for the park. A public information meeting will be held later in 2019 to gather feedback on a preferred location. 26
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