b) 2020/2021 Survey Comparison

2020 and 2021 North Perth Budget Surveys –Comparison of Common Question Responses

Summary Points of Survey Comparison:

Over 70% of responders in both survey years were urban residential property owners. Just over a quarter of responses in 2020 survey were rural residential or farmland property owners. This rose to almost one-third in the 2021 survey.

Majority of respondents in both years fall into the Good/Agree or Fair/Neutral categories in terms of the value they receive for their tax dollars.

Some form of an increase in user fees supported by over two-thirds of respondents in both years to balance budget/decrease service area deficits.

Opinions on service levels stayed mostly constant between the two surveys, with maintaining service levels for each area receiving the majority of support from respondents. Service areas where enhancing services levels received a notable level of support in both years was Public Works and Parks & Recreation.

Similarity in responses regarding key concerns in the community and/or ways to build a stronger community. Some common areas noted in both years include: affordable housing, managed growth, road safety/maintenance/upgrades, homelessness and poverty, access to social services/supports, municipal collaboration, and enhance/diversify recreation programs/amenities.

Identify age group (2020 Survey): 30 and under – 10.8% 31-50 years – 38.6% 51-64 years – 33.7% 65 and above – 15.7% Prefer not to say – 1.2%

Type of property(s):

2020 Survey Urban residential – 74.7% Rural residential – 14.5% Agricultural – 12% Commercial – 3.6% Industrial – 3.6% Multi-Res – 3.6% 2021 Survey Urban residential – 70.5% Rural residential – 23.1% Farmland – 7.7% Commercial – 2.6% Industrial – 1.3% Multi-Res – 7.7%

Value for taxes:

2020 Survey Very Good – 12% Good – 27.7% Fair – 41% Poor – 10.8% Very Poor – 1.2% Unsure – 7.2% 2021 Survey Strongly Agree – 9% Agree – 44.9% Neutral – 24.4% Disagree – 19.2% Strongly Disagree – 2.6%

User fees:

2020 Survey - 41% would support an increase in user fees to balance the budget - 28% would support a combination of increase in user fees and property taxes to balance the budget 2021 Survey - 64% support increase in recreation user fees - 64% support increase in landfill user fees - 59% support increase in cemetery user fees

Service Levels:

*Special notes to consider: • Question in 2020 Survey had more detailed service areas (i.e. broke General Government down into CAO, Clerk, Finance) and included County services as it was a joint survey with the County. • 2021 Survey provided example of portion of taxes allocated to each area based on average residential property assessment.

Library

Parks & Rec

Environmental Services (2020) and Landfill (2021)

Police

Fire

Public Works 2020 Survey Reduce – 20% Maintain – 60% Enhance – 20% Reduce – 13% Maintain – 55% Enhance – 31% Reduce – 6% Maintain – 69% Enhance – 25% Reduce – 5% Maintain – 70% Enhance – 25% Reduce – 1% Maintain – 86% Enhance – 13% Reduce – 4% Maintain – 64% 2021 Survey Reduce – 17% Maintain – 67% Enhance – 17% Reduce – 12% Maintain – 49% Enhance – 40% Reduce – 6% Maintain – 79% Enhance – 14% Reduce – 13% Maintain – 71% Enhance – 17% Reduce – 3% Maintain – 82% Enhance – 15% Reduce – 8% Maintain – 67%

General Government Enhance – 33% Office of CAO: Reduce – 17% Maintain – 75% Enhance – 8%

Finance: Reduce – 14% Maintain – 82% Enhance – 4%

Clerk: Reduce – 14% Maintain – 75% Enhance – 11%

2020 Survey Most important issue facing community Enhance – 26% Reduce – 40% Maintain – 54%

Most important issue(s) facing community:

Enhance – 6% (open-ended):

Affordable & multi-residential housing Managed growth Business and labour force attraction Long-term plan Traffic congestion Truck by-pass Maintenance of roads Safety of roads Parking by-law Pedestrian safety Childcare spaces Dog park New pool Public transportation Rural wards treated equal Listowel Memorial Arena decision Greenspace protection Green bin program Climate change Homelessness/poverty Drugs Theft 2021 Survey Most important concerns facing the Municipality (choose top 3 from list):

Roads and drainage Streetlights and sidewalks Growth, development and sustainability Provision of recreation facilities, parks, trails and programs Housing and accommodations Property taxes

Ideas for building a better, stronger community (open-ended):

Affordable housing Managed growth Business attraction Infrastructure improvements Incentives for Industry Traffic congestion Truck by-pass Widening Perth Line 86 Tidy streets

Mental health/addiction supports Shared services and collaboration No tax increase Public engagement Municipal wages Succession planning More sidewalks Safe streets Childcare spaces Dog Park New pool (Indoor and Outdoor) Diverse recreation programming Enhance online Library services More restaurants Inclusion Homelessness Crime/Drugs Mental health/addiction supports Access to Social Services Community Hub Preserve small town feel Collaboration Transparent Equal investment in urban and rural wards Centralized services Focus on essential services