CALAFCO Statewide Survey - Presentation - October 25, 2017 - - PDF document

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CALAFCO

Statewide Survey

• Presentation -

October 25, 2017

Opinion Research on Elections and Public Policy

Probolsky Research 3990 Westerly Place Suite 185 Newport Beach CA 92660 Newport Beach (949) 855-6400 San Francisco (415) 870-8150 Washington DC (202) 559-0270 Probolsky Research 3990 Westerly Place Suite 185 Newport Beach CA 92660 Newport Beach (949) 855-6400 San Francisco (415) 870-8150 Washington DC (202) 559-0270

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CALAFCO – Statewide Survey

Survey Methodology

From Thursday, September 28 to Sunday, October 1, 2017, Probolsky Research conducted a survey with live professional interviewers and

• nline, among California voters.

A total of 1,000 voters were surveyed (510 via telephone and 490 online). A survey of this size yields a margin of error of +/-3.2% with a confidence level of 95%. Interviews were conducted with respondents on both landline and mobile (62.7%) phones and were offered in English and Spanish (5.9%) languages. For the online survey phase, we invited participation via email. Security measures precluded individuals from completing the survey more than once and allowed only the designated voter to complete the survey. Online respondents could use their computer, tablet or smart phone to participate. Probolsky Research specializes in opinion research on behalf of corporate, government, non-profit, and special interest clients.

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Open-ended question

Top Issues

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What is Top of Mind in California?

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Poverty/Homelessness is the Most Important

Issue among California voters

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Question: What is the most important issue facing your community today? 13.8% 13.4% 11.8% 6.9% 6.7% 6.2% 4.5% 3.4% 3.0% 2.9% 2.7% 2.6% 2.4% 1.5% 1.4% 2.3% 3.8% 10.7% Homelessness/Poverty Affordable housing/Living Public safety/Drugs Jobs/Economy Transportation/Traffic/Roads Government Moral Issues Healthcare Immigration/Illegal immigration Education/Schools/Higher education Taxes Overpopulation/Controlling growth/development Environmental Security/Terrorism Water/Drought No issues Other Don't know/Refused

Probolsky Research 3990 Westerly Place Suite 185 Newport Beach CA 92660 Newport Beach (949) 855-6400 San Francisco (415) 870-8150 Washington DC (202) 559-0270

Majority of Respondents Know Nothing of

Their county’s Local Agency Formation Commission

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Question: What if anything do you know about the [COUNTY] Local Agency Formation Commission? 74.6% 6.3% 2.6% 2.4% 2.2% 0.4% 0.1% 2.7% 8.7% Nothing Not much Never heard about it Land use It's useless, waste of money They do good in general No issues Other Don't know/Refused

Probolsky Research 3990 Westerly Place Suite 185 Newport Beach CA 92660 Newport Beach (949) 855-6400 San Francisco (415) 870-8150 Washington DC (202) 559-0270

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Probolsky Research 3990 Westerly Place Suite 185 Newport Beach CA 92660 Newport Beach (949) 855-6400 San Francisco (415) 870-8150 Washington DC (202) 559-0270

What If Anything Do You Know about the

[COUNTY] Local Agency Formation Commission?

Female, 55-64, Democrat, $101,000 - $200,000, Latino/Hispanic, Southern CA, Coastal Counties

Answer: I'm Sure It's A Bunch Of Rich People Who Don't Care One Bit About Actually Helping Anything.

Male, 40-54, Republican, $25,000 - $50,000, White/Caucasian, Southern CA, Coastal Counties

Answer: Crooked

Male, 18-29, Democrat, Under $25,000, Latino/Hispanic, Southern CA, Coastal Counties

Answer: That It Does Not Protect Or Care For The Poor, The Sick , Or The Minority.

Female, 55-64, Republican, $101,000 - $200,000, Other, Northern CA, Inland Counties

Answer: Works With Local Government To Support Issues Affecting The County As A Whole

Male, 18-29, Democrat, Under $25,000, Latino/Hispanic, Southern CA, Coastal Counties

Answer: Planning Group

Male, 30-39, Democrat, $101,000 - $200,000, Other, Southern CA, Coastal Counties

Answer: They Approve New Cities, Annexations And Transfers

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What If Anything Do You Know about the

[COUNTY] Local Agency Formation Commission?

Female, 55-64, Democrat, $51,000 - $75,000, Latino/Hispanic, Southern CA, Coastal Counties

Answer: Nothing, Sounds Big But Is Probably Not

Male, 55-64, Republican, $25,000 - $50,000, White/Caucasian, Southern CA, Coastal Counties

Answer: That It's Run By The City Council Which Is Totally Worthless

Male, 30-39, DTS, $25,000 - $50,000, White/Caucasian, Northern CA, Coastal Counties

Answer: Bureaucracy That Breeds More Bureaucracy. Should Be Abolished.

Male, 55-64, DTS, $76,000 - $100,000, Asian, Northern CA, Inland Counties

Answer: Spread Money Around

Male, 65 and older, DTS, $101,000 - $200,000, Other, Southern CA, Coastal Counties

Answer: They Screwed Rainbow Water District

Male, 65 and older, Republican, $101,000 - $200,000, Other, Southern CA, Inland Counties

Answer: They Determine City Boundaries And Appropriateness Of Annexations To Cities And Special Districts.

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Probolsky Research 3990 Westerly Place Suite 185 Newport Beach CA 92660 Newport Beach (949) 855-6400 San Francisco (415) 870-8150 Washington DC (202) 559-0270

What If Anything Do You Know about the

[COUNTY] Local Agency Formation Commission?

Female, 40-54, Republican, $101,000 - $200,000, Other, Northern CA, Inland Counties

Answer: I Am Unfamiliar With The Group Name, But Believe This Group May Be Responsible For The Homeless Shelter In Auburn And Proposed In Rocklin. Bad News!!

Female, 40-54, Other, $25,000 - $50,000, White/Caucasian, Southern CA, Coastal Counties

Answer: It's A Fraud And Corrupt

Male, 55-64, Other, $101,000 - $200,000, Other, Northern CA, Inland Counties

Answer: Useless Bureaucracy

Female, 18-29, Democrat, $101,000 - $200,000, Other, Northern CA, Coastal Counties

Answer: I Do Not Trust The County And Local Agency They Do Not Think About People, They Think About Them Self How Big Their Income Would Be On Our Tax Money.

Male, 40-54, Other, Under $25,000, Latino/Hispanic, Southern CA, Coastal Counties

Answer: Is That Some New Commission That Will Take Tax Money From The Hard Working People

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Probolsky Research 3990 Westerly Place Suite 185 Newport Beach CA 92660 Newport Beach (949) 855-6400 San Francisco (415) 870-8150 Washington DC (202) 559-0270

What If Anything Do You Know about the

[COUNTY] Local Agency Formation Commission?

Male, 40-54, Other, $25,000 - $50,000, White/Caucasian, Southern CA, Coastal Counties

Answer: It's Most Likely Corrupted By Special Interest Groups And Favors Non-U.S. Citizen Rights

Unknown, 18-29, Democrat, $25,000 - $50,000, White/Caucasian, Northern CA, Coastal Counties

Answer: They Attempt To Increase Voting Outcome

Male, 40-54, Other, $101,000 - $200,000, Other, Southern CA, Coastal Counties

Answer: Nothing, I’m Sure It Is Also A Waste Of My Money

Male, 55-64, Republican, $51,000 - $75,000, Black/African American, Northern CA, Inland Counties

Answer: Politicians Or Want-A-Be Politicians

Male, 65 and older, Republican, $25,000 - $50,000, White/Caucasian, Southern CA, Coastal Counties

Answer: Wastes Money

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Majority of Respondents are Unsure of

Their approval/disapproval of the job their county’s LAFCO is doing

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Question: There are 58 Local Agency Formation Commissions in California – one in each county. They are known as L-A-F-C-O-S and are generally responsible for ensuring that cities and special districts are functioning efficiently, and they have final say over their

• boundaries. LAFCOs are also responsible for administering Municipal Service Reviews (MSRs) of special districts and cities to help to them

improve their performance. In general, LAFCOs are governed by five or seven commissioners that include two county supervisors, two city council members, and one public member and sometimes directors of special districts. In general, do you approve or disapprove of the job that the [COUNTY] LAFCO is doing? 25.9% 26.2% 47.9% Approve Disapprove Unsure/Refused

Probolsky Research 3990 Westerly Place Suite 185 Newport Beach CA 92660 Newport Beach (949) 855-6400 San Francisco (415) 870-8150 Washington DC (202) 559-0270

40.3% Say There is No Community Issue

That they cared about where LAFCO was involved

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Question: Has there ever been an issue in your community you cared about where LAFCO was involved? 7.4% 40.3% 52.3% Yes No Unsure/Refused

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Social Media is How Most Respondents

Learned about LAFCO being involved in an issue in their community

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Question: Thinking specifically, how did you learn that LAFCO was involved in an issue in your community?*

30.2% 22.6% 22.6% 17.0% 15.1% 11.3% 3.8% 17.0% Social media Local media Friend or family member Official government notice by mail Email or social media post by a government agency Email or social media post by another community member Posted sign Unsure Probolsky Research 3990 Westerly Place Suite 185 Newport Beach CA 92660 Newport Beach (949) 855-6400 San Francisco (415) 870-8150 Washington DC (202) 559-0270 *ASKED ONLY IF ANSWERED “YES” TO Q4

52.4% Say Social Media Posts Would be

Most effective way for LAFCO to communicate with the public

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Question: If there was an issue in your community where LAFCO was involved, what would be the most effective way for LAFCO to communicate with the public and to encourage involvement? Choose as many as you like.

52.4% 45.1% 45.1% 44.0% 33.5% 25.3% 22.0% 19.7% 7.9% Social media posts Mail Emails Townhall meetings Signs Text message LAFCO website posts Phone calls Unsure/Refused Probolsky Research 3990 Westerly Place Suite 185 Newport Beach CA 92660 Newport Beach (949) 855-6400 San Francisco (415) 870-8150 Washington DC (202) 559-0270

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72.3% Agree: LAFCO Does Not Seem to be

A very transparent agency

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Question: Now I am going to read you a statement. Please tell me whether you agree or disagree with the following statement: “LAFCO doesn’t seem to be a very transparent agency because I never hear about what they are doing in the news or on social media.” 72.3% 11.0% 16.7% Agree Disagree Unsure/Refused

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Local Government Efficiency is What

County LAFCO’s should focus on, respondents say

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Question: Knowing what you know now about LAFCOs, which of the following do you think the [COUNTY] LAFCO should focus on? Choose as many as apply.

Probolsky Research 3990 Westerly Place Suite 185 Newport Beach CA 92660 Newport Beach (949) 855-6400 San Francisco (415) 870-8150 Washington DC (202) 559-0270 63.0% 54.4% 27.8% 25.5% 15.2% Making local government more efficient Making local government more transparent Eliminating inactive local special districts Consolidating local government agencies Unsure/Refused

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Thank You.

Opinion Research on Elections and Public Policy

Probolsky Research 3990 Westerly Place Suite 185 Newport Beach CA 92660 Newport Beach (949) 855-6400 San Francisco (415) 870-8150 Washington DC (202) 559-0270