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Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

City administration conducted an online survey this fall that asked residents what they think city council’s spending priorities should be in 2023 and presented those results during the Nov. 14 council meeting.

Provided below are the results from those questions. A total of 396 people responded, representing 1.14 per cent of the population.

Question 1

Asked if they feel the amount of taxes they pay is reasonable compared to the services they receive, 57.5 per cent said no, 29 per cent said somewhat and 13.4 per cent said yes.

Question 2

Asked how they would rate the overall quality of services they receive, 49.7 per cent said satisfactory, 47.1 per cent said unsatisfactory and three per cent said excellent.

There were 168 comments attached to the question, with many responses singling out the “terrible condition” of roads and parks.

“It’s hard to see why my taxes continually increase,” RQH SHUVRQ ZURWH ³, VSHFL¿FDOO\ ERXJKW LQ DQ ROGHU DUHD and an older home versus building (new) to save on taxes and my taxes went up $600 since buying my home.”

Question 3

The survey asked residents which criteria the city should use when deciding what budget priorities to pursue in 2023.

Of those who responded, 50.13 per cent said attracting new and/or supporting existing businesses, 49.1 per cent said reducing spending, 30.85 per cent said increasing the current level of services, 22.88 per cent said maintaining or increasing spending, 17.48 per cent said “other” and 7.71 per cent said deferring capital spending.

“We need to maintain what we have. Your budget evHU\ \HDU KDV EHHQ KHDYLO\ VSHQW RQ SROLFH DQG ¿UH 7KRVH departments should be able to maintain without an increase yearly,” a resident wrote.

Question 4

Respondents’ top spending priorities were roadways, water/wastewater infrastructure, public safety, recreation services, economic development, transit, planning and development, parks and pathways and waste collection/ ODQG¿OO

Question 5

In a near split, 50.52 per cent said it wasn’t reasonable for the city to increase taxes to cover increased inÀDWLRQ UHODWHG FRVWV DQG SHU FHQW VDLG LW ZDV UHDsonable.

Question 6

If given the mandate to manage Moose Jaw, 55.35 per cent would maintain programs and services with a modest yearly tax increase, 24.28 per cent would reduce programs and services and not require an annual tax increase and 20.37 per cent would expand programs and services where current levels are inadequate and hike taxHV DERYH FXUUHQW LQÀDWLRQ OHYHOV

Question 7

Asked if they agree with general tax revenues funding the waterworks utility, 68.13 per cent said yes and 31.87 per cent said no.

Question 8

Asked what they think of recreation services having a 50-per-cent cost recovery rate from user fees and the rest from taxes, 46.13 per cent said they would increase user fees to reduce funding from taxes, 44.85 per cent agreed with the cost recovery rate, and 9.02 per cent said they would decrease user fees and use more taxation.

Question 9

Asked how important bylaw enforcement is, 45.66 per cent said somewhat, 27.3 per cent said extremely, 19.39 per cent said not so important and 7.65 per cent said not at all important.

Question 10

With economic development, 44.5 per cent said it’s extremely important, 39.64 per cent said it’s somewhat important, and 15.86 per cent said it’s not so or not at all important.

Question 11

With environmental protection and sustainability, 63.75 per cent of respondents said Moose Jaw should continue with that focus and 36.25 per cent said it should not.

Question 12

Asked how important recreation venues and programs are, 33.5 per cent said somewhat important, 29.92 per cent said extremely important, and 36.57 per cent said either not so or not at all important.

Question 13

Most respondents — 53.32 per cent — said the city should make the outdoor pool a priority in the capital budget, while 46.68 per cent said no.

Question 14

Respondents said the best ways to fund the pool’s construction — if provincial/federal money is unavailable — are “other” such as fundraising (44.5 per cent), a combo of taxes and levies (29.84 per cent), a dedicated pool levy (19.9 per cent) and property taxes (5.76 per cent).

Question 15

Asked how important arts and culture are, 41.28 per cent said somewhat important, 25.64 per cent said not so important, 16.67 per cent said not at all important and 16.41 per cent said extremely important.

Other questions asked respondents how long they have lived here, their age, where they live, how they prefer to receive information, the social media platforms they use, the most important issues affecting Moose Jaw and a suggested change to improve quality of life.