City Income Tax Supported In Survey

A majority of Ann Arbor residents favor establishing a one per cent city income tax, believe there are adequate park lands in the city and support the $5 marijuana fine charter amendment. These are some of the results of a recently completed survey of 396 city residents by the city's community planning and management staff. The results of the l survey will be presented to the City Council tonight. Survey respondents were randomly I selected from updated 1970 Ann Arbor I census data and were subject to 45I minute personal interviews on a variety I of local and national issues. Of those responding, 88.8 per cent were I white, 9.7 per cent were black, 52 per I cent were female and 48 per cent were I male. Income data on those responding I showed 25 per cent of those surveyed LÓÈarned less than $6,000 per yearf24.4 per I cent earned between $6,000 and $11,000, I 14.2 per cent earned between $11,000 to I $15,000 per year, 23.4 per cent earned beI tween $15,000 to $25,000 per year and 13 I per cent earned more than $25,000 per I year. Perhaps the most surprising results of I the survey were residents' responses to I issues such as a city income tax. The survey showed 53.3 per cent of the I residents believe the financial crisis I which has plagued city hall for the past I several years actually exists. However, I 52.6 per cent of the residents think it is I not necessary for the city to raise addiI tional revenue. When asked about possible methods of I raising additional revenue, only 23.7 per I cent supported an increase in the properI ty tax with 66.4 per cent say they favored 1 some form of city income tax. If an election were held temorrow, 66.3 I per cent of the residents said they would I vote in favor of a charter amendment I that would allow the city to begin a one I per cent city income tax while reducing [ property taxes by 7.5 milis. I Such a proposal had been defeated I three times by city voters. About 51.4 per cent of the residents I surveyed said they voted in the most reI cent city election. Of those who said they I voted, 52.7 per cent said they voted in fa-. I vor of the marijuana charter amendment I and 61.1 per cent said they voted against I the rent control proposal. Residents also responded that if an I election were held tomorrow, a large I majority would favor continuing the 2.5 mili property tax which supports the Ann I Arbor Transportation Authority - 84.5 ■;. per cent said they would favor the millage. should be providing and whether they are satisfied with current city services. Residents were asked to respond "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree" with a number of statements. Sixty-three per cent strongly agreed that the major concern of local city government should be providing services to make the área a pleasant place to live. Residents were much more divided on whether local government should try to promote economie growth by "encouraging as much business and industrial activity as they can." A plurality of residents, 32.6 per cent, appeared neutral on the question, but 14.3 per cent strongly agreed with the statement, 13.5 per cent agreed with the statement, 24 per cent disagreed with the statement, and 15.7 per cent strongly disagreed with the statement. Ann Arbor residents do not favor expanding population to promote growth, with 36.4 per cent disagreeing and 29.7 per cent strongly disagreeing with the statement "Local governments like Ann Arbor should try to expand the area's population to promote economie growth." A majority of residents, 51.2 per cent, strongly agreed that the city's primary responsibility is maintaining the safety of the citizens, "even if it means spend, ing more tax money. " A majority of residents, 56 per cent, also agreed that is not the purpose of local government "to spend tax dollars for industrial and commercial development." A large majority, 76.2 per cent, strongly agreed local government should insure that all groups are represented before making decisions affecting them. Ann Arbor residents are again divided on whether the city has an obligation to provide low and moderate income housin?, with 24.2 per cent strongly agreeing the city does have the responsibility, 22.9 per cent agreeing, 18.2 per cent neutral, 18.1 per cent disagreeing and 16.6 per cent strongly disagreeing. A majority, however 67.7 per cent said they believed Ann Arbor should not build more low and moderate income housing, but 63.1 per cent said they believed the city should encourage private companies to build such housing. A large majority, 82.7 per cent of the residents, believe such housing should be built on scattered sites throughout the city. Fifty-eight per cent of those surveyed said they believed there are adequate park lands in the city and 63.7 per cent of those surveyed said they believe there are adequate recreational facilities near "yourhome." A majority of those responding, 71 per I cent, had used city parks. Other recreational facilities did not have nearly that amount of use with only 27.9 per cent ' saying they had used the swimming pools, 28.4 per cent used ice skating facilities, and 22.2 per cent used the ball playing fields. Other facilities, such as those for indoor recreation, the golf_ course and the canoe livery had lower use. A majority of residents, 78 per cent, said they believed "the city should financially support medically related services" such as the Summit Medical Center, Octagon House and the Free People's Clinic, although less than 10 per cent of those responding said they had ever used any of the facilities. A large majority, 82.4 per cent, said they favored curbside garbage pickup as a "permanent way of reducing city expenditures." Residents also were asked whether : certain city services are "improved, remained the same, or gotten worse" during the past year. The highest marks were given to the city's transportation services where 75.4 per cent of the residents said they believe the Dial-A-Ride service has improved in the past year (2.6 per cent they believe it has become worse) and 60.9 per cent said they believe the line bus service has improved (5.2 per cent said it had become worse). Other services did not have such a high improvement rating. On refuse collection, 8.6 per cent said it has improved, 74.1 per cent thought it has remained the same and 17.4 per cent I said it has become worse. Forty-eight per cent said the believe street maintenance has become worse in the past year while 50.1 per cent thought it has remained the same. Only 1.5 per I cent believe it has improved. A majority, 80.6 per cent, believe park maintenance has remained the same with 8.7 per cent believing there has been improvement, and 10.7 per cent believing the service is worse. A majority, 66.9 per cent, also believe recreation programs have remained the same for the past year, and 76.3 per cent believe pólice department services have remained the same, with 15.1 per cent - indicating they think the service has improved. While residents were divided on the issue, a plurality, 28.5 per cent believe city government is the most serious problem facing Ann Arbor. Twenty per cent said law and order was the most serious probI lem, social welfare, 17.4 per cent, the enI vironment, 18.8 per cent, and other