Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/175080
Sarasota News Leader September 20, 2013 "There has been a steady decline [emphasis in the report] in the mention of issues that have a direct impact on personal economic well-being (economy/jobs; taxes; declining property values; health care; foreclosures; insurance; energy costs; affordable housing)," the executive summary points out. Cumulatively, the figure for those topics has fallen from the 51-percent level in 2010 to the 29-percent mark in 2013, the summary notes. CONTACT WITH THE COUNTY Conversely, the summary says, "There are signs of the reemergence of issues related to population growth/new development." For example, the summary points out that "Traffic/ transportation" was mentioned as a concern by 5 percent of respondents in 2011 compared to 10 percent in 2013. "Population growth/new development" was at the 3-percent mark in 2011 and at the 10-percent level in 2013, while "Taxes" was mentioned by 4 percent of the 2012 respondents and 7 percent of them this year. Page 60 The answers were ranked as follows: In a new section, the 2013 survey asked about the method respondents used most frequently to contact county offices or leaders. (It notes that 24 percent of respondents had communicated with a county office or official "to complain about something or to get information over the past year," down from 29 percent in 2012.) • Making a phone call directly to the person: 56 percent. • Phoning the county's Call Center: 47 percent. • Sending an email: 29 percent. • Meeting in person: 20 percent. • Sending a letter: 8 percent. The survey also shows a rise in negative reasons for the contact. "Voicing a concern" rose The summary notes that the biggest decline from the 24-percent level in 2012 to the 29-perrecorded came in citizens' citation of crime cent mark in 2013, while "reporting someas a concern. That fell from 5 percent in 2012 thing" was up from 12 percent to 22 percent this year. to 2 percent this year. The 2013 Citizens Survey listed respondents' views on the biggest threats to the county's economy. Image courtesy of Sarasota County