2015 community survey...2015 the survey was administered by mail, web and phone. a random sample of...

2015 COMMUNITY SURVEY

Public Attitudes, Perceptions, and Awareness of County Programs and Services

Analysis of Migration to Mecklenburg County

October 13, 2015

Prepared by: Mecklenburg County Strategic Planning and Evaluation

Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners Public Policy Meting

2|

SurveyHistory and Purpose

13th year

Purpose:

Assess Mecklenburg County residents’ perceptions and awareness of County government, programs and services

Understand differences among subgroups of the population and areas within the County

Gain broad understanding of attitudes about: o Decisions to move to Mecklenburgo County communication strategies

AwarenessPerceptions

Attitudes

3|

Survey2015

The survey was administered by mail, web and phone.

A random sample of 1,072 households.

95% level of confidence with a precision rate of at least +/-3%.

Winter 2015

PlanningSpring 2015

DesignSummer 2015

Data Collection

Trends –Perceptions of County Government

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TrendsGovernment Perceptions

Full Questions:

1. There is value in the services provided by Mecklenburg County to residents.

2. Mecklenburg County spends my local tax dollars on services that help residents improve their community.

OMB Analysis: Answers compiled over time for questions asked consistently in the survey. Years available vary based on survey history.

Trends are generally positive or flat for these questions since 2012

Target

Survey Question Date

2012 2013 2014 2015

Value in theservicesprovided

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%86%

88%82%

89%

80%1.


2012 2013 2014 2015

Tax dollarsfor servicesthat improvecommunity

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

71%67%

74%

66%80%

2.

Percentages = Strongly Agree + Agree

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Analysis – FY15Value in Services

Full Question:

There is value in the services provided by Mecklenburg County to residents

OMB Analysis: Answers compiled from the FY 15 Survey.

Education levels showed some differences in perceived value in County services in FY 15

< HS HS Special/Tech Sch

SomeCollege

CollegeGrad

Post Grad,no Degree

Post GradDegree

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

88.00%

94%

83%

7|

AnalysisTax Dollars Spent

Full Question:

Mecklenburg County spends my local tax dollars on services that help residents improve their community


Differences in perceptions by education for FY 15 results


SomeCollege

CollegeGrad

Post Grad,no Degree

Post GradDegree

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

67.00%

57%

85%

8|

TrendsGovernment Trust

Full Question:

Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with the following statement: I trust the information I receive from Mecklenburg County.


This question saw significant improvement since it was last asked in 2011, reaching the target of 80%.

Target

Question not askedFrom 2012 to 2014.


2008 2009 2010 2011 2015

Trustinformation Ireceive fromthe County

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

73%

77%

69%

80%

66%

80%


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TrendsOpen and Transparent

Full Question:

Do you consider Mecklenburg County government to be open and transparent?

In this initial year, 50 percent of respondents answered “yes.”

Perceptions 50 %Yes

New question for FY15


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AnalysisOpen Government

Full Question:

Do you consider Mecklenburg County government to be open and transparent?

Age groups showed little difference on this question. OMB Analysis: Answers compiled from the FY 15 Survey. Results reflect the percentage of respondents who responded “yes” to the statements about Mecklenburg County Government.

Lower responses among some education levels and among Whites compared to other racial/ethnic groups

Hispanic White AfricanAmerican

Asian

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

50.00%


SomeCollege

CollegeGrad

Post Grad,no Degree

Post GradDegree

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

50.00%

73%

38%

66%

47%

11|

TrendsCitizen Participation

Full Question:

I am satisfied with opportunities for citizen participation in County policy development and decision-making.


Satisfaction with opportunities for citizen participation are stable from 2014, but down from prior years

Target


2012 2013 2014 2015

Satisfied withopportunitiesfor citizenparticipation

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

64%

72%

60%60%

80%


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TrendsPublic Information

Full Questions:

Would you say Mecklenburg County does an “excellent,” “good,” “fair,” or “poor” job of communicating information about County issues, services, and performance to the public?


Perceptions have remained very stable over time on this question.


2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Communicatinginformation tothe public

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

52%

47%

46%

46% 46% 45%44%

49%

Percentages = Excellent + Good

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TrendsCommunity Vision

82%Down from 86% in FY14

75%Stable from FY14

82%Up slightly from FY14

LIVE WORK RECREATE

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TrendsCommunity Vision

Full Questions:

1. Mecklenburg County as a place to live.

2. Mecklenburg County as a place to work.

3. Mecklenburg County as a place to recreate.

Percentages = Excellent + Good

OMB Analysis: Answers compiled over time for questions asked consistently in the survey.

Broadly positive trends in these three questions over time, with the exception of dips in 1. and 2. during 2010-2011


2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

As a place toLIVE

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

79%

72%81%

76%

82% 82%82%

75%

80%


2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

As a place toWORK

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

77%73% 77%

86%

72%67%67%

82%80%


2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

As a place toRECREATE

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

74%

74%

79%73%

75%75%70% 71%

80%

1.

2.

3.

Target

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DepartmentsPublic Health –Awareness & OpinionFull Questions:

1. Did you know about the new tobacco free parks and smoke free government facilities plans implemented in March 2015?

2. Would you support a measure requiring all public places in the county (defined as businesses / worksites that allow the public inside) to be smoke-free indoors?

Percentages =1. “Yes” Responses2. Strongly Agree + Agree

OMB Analysis: Answers compiled from the FY15 survey.

61%

86%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Tobacco-free parks andsmoke-free government

facilities

Support making allpublic places smoke-

free?

New Questions for FY15

1. 2.

16|

SummarySurvey

Continued high and relatively stable results in perception in the value of government services.

Some decline in perception that local tax dollars spent on services that help residents improve their community.

Trust in information from the County has increased to the target of 80%.

Vision (LIVE, WORK, and RECREATE) questions have seen broadly positive trends, but with flattening of Work and Recreate perceptions recently.

Some differences in perceptions based on education level of respondents

Analysis –Moving to Mecklenburg

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AnalysisMoving to Mecklenburg -Context

Source: Wendell Cox. Available at: http://www.newgeography.com/content/004882-still-moving-texas-the-2014-metropolitan-population-estimates

Recent data show the Charlotte metro is in the top 10 nationally in attracting new residents

http://www.newgeography.com/content/004882-still-moving-texas-the-2014-metropolitan-population-estimates

19|

AnalysisMoving to Mecklenburg

Full Questions:

When choosing a community in which to reside, please indicate the level of importance for each characteristic.

What was the primary reason for you moving to Mecklenburg County?

1. Most important community characteristics

2. Why did YOU move to Mecklenburg?

From Theory

To PracticeMecklenburg

County


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Analysis - TheoryChoosing a Community

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Full Question:

When choosing a community in which to reside, please indicate the level of importance for each characteristic.


Cost of living, employment, vibrancy and housing affordability top the list

Cost of living, 96%

Employment opportunities, 93%

Community vibrancy, 89%

Affordable housing, 89%

Quality of schools, 86%

Recreational opportunities, 85%

Proximity to family, 72%

Colleges/Universities, 65%

Percentages = Very Important + Important

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RecreationalOpportunit..

CommunityVibrancy

QualitySchools

AffordableHousing

Cost ofLiving

AttendCollege

SeekEmployment

Proximity toFamily

AcceptEmployment

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Analysis – Practice Moving to Mecklenburg

Full Question:


OMB Analysis: Answers compiled from the FY 15 Survey.Note: Respondents who were Mecklenburg natives were excluded.

Employment opportunities trumped all other reasons listed for moving to Mecklenburg County.

Millennials

Gen Xers

Baby Boomers

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AcceptEmployment

HS

4.04% Special/Tech Sch2.16%

Some College

11.32%

Post Grad, no Degree10.51%

Post Grad Degree

32.08%

College Grad39.89%

Analysis - PracticeMovingfor Jobs

Full Question:


OMB Analysis: Respondents who were Mecklenburg natives were excluded

The largest group moving here (those accepting jobs) have college and post graduate degrees (83 %)

This group mainly consists of Baby Boomers and Gen Xer’s, (over 80%)

ByEducation

83 %

23|

Analysis - PracticeMovingRecently

Full Question:


OMB Analysis. Respondents who were Mecklenburg County natives were excluded as were residents in the Mecklenburg over 10 years and those who did not list a specific reason for moving to the County.

Community Vibrancy and Proximity to Family stand out in the group that has moved most recently

g g

< 1 year 1 - 2 years 3 - 4 years 5-10 years0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

%

Vibrancy

Family

Seek/AcceptJob

Cost

Affordable Housing

College

24|

SummaryMoving to Mecklenburg

Continued growth indicates we are “checking the boxes” for most people as possible destination

Key characteristics sought: Low cost-of-living Job opportunities Community vibrancy

Employment and family are key decision points for relocating here

Mecklenburg’s movement –Boomer’s and Gen X’ers with college degrees

Continued in-migration makes us “younger”

The groups moving here are more likely to have school-aged children

2015 COMMUNITY SURVEY

Public Attitudes, Perceptions, and Awareness of County Programs and Services

Analysis of Migration to Mecklenburg County

October 13, 2015

Prepared by: Mecklenburg County Strategic Planning and Evaluation

Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners Public Policy Meting

2015 community survey...2015 the survey was administered by mail, web and phone. a random sample of...

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