Budget Survey Results

A City of Port Coquitlam survey suggests that most residents are generally satisfied with how their municipal tax dollars are being spent.

Some 220 people took part in an online survey that collected public input on Port Coquitlam’s 2009-2013 Financial Plan, which will set out expenditures and revenues for the next five years. The survey was the City’s most successful public-input vehicle to date on financial planning issues.

Respondents identified transportation as the most important issue facing the community, with 37 responses, followed closely by public safety, with 32 responses. Also high on the list were development and managing growth (25 responses) and homelessness (21), followed by recreation facilities (12) and economic development (10).

How Important?
Of note is that 98 per cent of survey respondents said that overall City services in Port Coquitlam are either very good value or fair value. When asked to rate each individual City service, between 70 to 100 per cent of respondents said they are very or somewhat satisfied with all services. In addition, 70 to 98 per cent of respondents rated each individual City service as being either very or somewhat important.

How Satisfied?
In terms of satisfaction levels, the top marks went to the City’s provision of parks and recreation services, firefighting, fire prevention, emergency preparedness, pest control, water and sewer services, storm drainage, street sweeping, waste collection (garbage, recycling, green waste and kitchen waste), online services, environmental monitoring and financial stability (maintaining reserves). Ninety per cent or more of respondents are very or somewhat satisfied with these services.

Taxation
As for taxation, 61.7 per cent of respondents are willing to pay for a tax increase in order to either maintain (37.7 per cent) or increase (24 per cent) service levels. Twenty-three per cent wish to see services cut in order to maintain the current tax level, and 3.8% wish to see services reduced in order to cut taxes.

For detailed survey results, click here.

Contact
Theresa Flynn
Budget Officer
Tel 604.927.5486
Fax 604.927.5403
Email budget@portcoquitlam.ca

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