THE VALLEY FORGE PROJECT
(A Division of the Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, In.)
2000
TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS SURVEY
SECTION
I: General
1.)
What is the population of your township?
91% Under 10,000
1% 10-20,000
1% 20-30,000
1% 30-40,000
0% 40-50,000
1% 50,000
Plus
5% No Answer
2.)
How many square miles in your township?
11% Under 10
28% 10-20
24% 20-30
18% 30-40
16% 50-100
3% 100 Plus
3.)
What was the range of your township=s fiscal 1999 general fund budget?
74% Under $1 million
24% $1-5 million
1% $5-10
million
1% Over 10
million
4.)
How long have you served as a township official?
27%
Less than 4 years
25% More than 4 years
48% 8 years or more
5.)
To what political party do you belong?
31% Democrat
68% Republican
1% Independent
6.)
In what county is your township located?
See
Chart
7.)
What is the range of your earnings per year as a township official?
64% Less than $2,500
18% $2,500-$5,000
6% $5,000-10,000
12% Over $10,000
SECTION II Growth &
Development
1.)
What is the biggest problem facing your township?
31% Low commercial tax
base
12% Aging infrastructure
2% Affordable
housing
1% Medical
facilities
25% Sprawl
6% Unemployment
23% Other
2.)
How would you describe your township?
83% Predominantly rural
16% Predominantly
residential
1% Predominantly
commercial
3.)
During your term as a township official how would you describe growth in
BUSINESS?
3%
Decline in growth
20% No change
51% A little growth
26% Much growth
4.)
If your township experienced growth during your term in office how
would you describe your township=s efforts to maintain adequate township
services to residents?
34% Excellent
63% Good
3% Poor
5.)
If your township experienced growth during your term in office what
would you say is the biggest problem associated with that growth?
39% Traffic
1% Crime
3% Flooding
45% Sewage
12% Other
6.)
Is open space preservation a high priority in your township?
53%
Yes
30% No
17% No Opinion
7.) Is
bringing new business and creating new jobs a high priority in your
township?
42%
Yes
42% No
16% No Opinion
8.)
If bringing new business to your township is a high priority what
type of business would you like to see develop?
43%
Manufacturing
10% Retail
7% Tourism
31% Service &
Technology
9% Other
9.)
Is development of new residential housing a high priority for your township
government?
21%
Yes
65% No
14% No Opinion
10.)
Is development of new affordable housing a high priority for your
township government?
17%
Yes
67% No
16% No Opinion
SECTION
III:
Inter-Municipal Agreements
1.)
Does your township have any inter-municipal agreements or inter-municipal
authorities?
59%
Yes
37% No
4% No
Opinion
2.) Do you
favor your township entering into inter-municipal agreements?
65%
Yes
17% No
18% No Opinion
3.)
If you favor inter-municipal agreements for you township which type do you
think would be most beneficial?
21% Police
31% Sewer
20% Planning &
Zoning
21% Highway
7% Other
SECTION IV:
Planning and Zoning
1.) The
General Assembly has given school districts some options for local property
tax reform. As a township
official, would you like to have similar options to lower property taxes?
64%
Yes
17% No
19% No opinion
2.) If
Harrisburg (the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania) were to enact legislation to
give townships the ability to implement or raise other taxes to lower
property taxes, which would be your highest priority to impose or raise?
64%
Earned income tax
23% Sales tax
5% Mercantile
tax
8% Business
privilege tax
3.) In December 1999 Governor Tom Ridge signed Growing Greener, a
$645 million initiative to fund open space preservation in Pennsylvania.
Will this initiative be used in your township?
29%
Yes
18% No
53% Unsure
4.) How would you rank open space preservation in your township?
40%
Very important
44% Somewhat
important
13% Somewhat
unimportant
3% Very
unimportant
5.)
Does your township have a comprehensive plan?
61%
Yes
33% No
6% No
Opinion
5a.) If YES, is it managed by the
county or by your township?
15%
County
85% Township
5b.)
If YES, how old is your comprehensive plan?
39%
0-5 years
30% 5-10 years
31% Over 10 years
6.)
Do you believe that your township=s zoning ordinances are adequate and
up-to-date?
48%
Yes
37% No
15% No Opinion
7.)
What percentage of your township=s land mass would you estimate is
developed, both residential and commercial?
45%
0-20%
37% 20-40%
13% 40-60%
5% Over
60%
8.)
Do you favor or oppose County government taking control of land use planning
and zoning in your township?
10%
Favor
79% Oppose
11% No Opinion
9.) IF
the state government were willing to fund only one of the following projects in
your township which one would be your highest priority?
(Please choose only one.)
8%
Increased subsidies to farmers
40% Improve township
roads
1% Improve
township libraries
16% Improve wastewater
disposal capacity
5% Improve
emergency fire and rescue services
2% Improve police
department
3%
Improve township maintenance department
2% Improve
public transportation
1% Improve
affordable housing stock in the township
11% Preserve open space
5% Improve
parks and recreation
6% Other
10.)
During your term in office has the township budget increased, decreased or
stayed about the same?
59% Increased
2% Decreased
39% Stayed about the same
11.) During
your term in office has the township tax bill to residents increased, decreased
or stayed about the same?
23% Increased
7% Decreased
70% Stayed about the same
12.) During your term in office has the township tax bill to businesses
increased, decreased, or stayed about the same?
14%
Increased
5% Decreased
81% Stayed about the same