1 COLORADO SPRINGS STORMWATER BALLOT ISSUE SURVEY June 27 th 29 th, 2017
2 Magellan Strategies is pleased to present the results of a 475n automated survey of likely November 2017 general election voters in Colorado Springs. The interviews were conducted June 27 th 29 th, 2017. This survey has a margin of error of +/- 4.49% at the 95 percent confidence interval. This survey was weighted based upon past general election voting demographics.
3 VOTER FAMILIARITY WITH STORMWATER ISSUES
How familiar would you say you are with the stormwater issues facing the City of Colorado Springs? 4 14% 5% 2% 34% 45% 38% 40% 31% 49% 14% 14% 6% 2% 4% 2% MEN WOMEN VERY FAMILIAR SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR NOT TOO FAMILIAR NOT FAMILIAR AT ALL UNSURE NO OPINION 54% 47% 38% 40% 33% 26% 15% 16% 11% 4% 2% 4% 6% 3% REPUBLICAN DEMOCRAT UNAFFILIATED
How familiar would you say you are with the stormwater issues facing the City of Colorado Springs? 14% 5% 2% 45% 34% 5 VERY FAMILIAR SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR NOT TOO FAMILIAR NOT FAMILIAR AT ALL UNSURE NO OPINION 54% 22% 6% 52% 33% 43% 45% 40% 23% 17% 17% 10% 3% 10% 7% 4% 5% 2% 3% 2% 30% 50% 16% 4% 18-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65 PLUS
How familiar would you say you are with the stormwater issues facing the City of Colorado Springs? 14% 5% 2% 45% 34% 6 VERY FAMILIAR SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR NOT TOO FAMILIAR NOT FAMILIAR AT ALL UNSURE NO OPINION 48% 50% 44% 40% 43% 43% 34% 36% 38% 34% 27% 29% 23% 24% 13% 16% 12% 13% 2% 2% 7% 7% 4% 5% 3% 1% 1% 2% CC1 CC2 CC3 CC4 CC5 CC6
7 STORMWATER BALLOT QUESTION
8 WITHOUT ANY INCREASE IN THE RATE OF EXISTING TAXES OR IMPOSING ANY NEW TAX, SHOULD THE CITY COUNCIL OF COLORADO SPRINGS ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING: THE RE-IMPOSITION AND COLLECTION OF STORMWATER SERVICE FEES COMMENCING JANUARY 1, 2018 AND CONTINUING FOR A PERIOD OF TWENTY (20) YEARS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING THROUGH A CITY ENTERPRISE, THE CONSTRUCTION, IMPROVEMENT, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC STORMWATER FACILITIES AND A PUBLIC STORMWATER SYSTEM IN THE CITY, INCLUDING PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY WITHIN THE CITY FROM THE HAZARDS OF FLOODING AND STORMWATER, TO BE ASSESSED ON ALL DEVELOPED REAL PROPERTY WITHIN THE CITY, WITH SUCH FEES NOT TO EXCEED THE FOLLOWING AMOUNTS: FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY: $5.00 A MONTH FOR INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY: $36.00 /ACRE/MONTH FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY: $26.00 /ACRE/MONTH FOR INSTITUTIONAL/PUBLIC FACILITIES: $23.00 /ACRE/MONTH PROVIDING THAT SUCH FEES MAY BE THEREAFTER INCREASED BY CITY COUNCIL BY RESOLUTION ONLY AS REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH A COURT ORDER, FEDERAL OR STATE PERMITS, FEDERAL OR STATE LAWS, AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENTS OF THE CITY ENTERED INTO BEFORE JUNE 1, 2016; AND FURTHER PROVIDING THAT NOT SOONER THAN JANUARY 1, 2025, STORMWATER SERVICE FEES MAY, WHEN REQUIRED TO MEET STORMWATER PROGRAM NEEDS, ALSO BE ADJUSTED BY CITY COUNCIL BY RESOLUTION BUT ONLY BY AMOUNTS WHICH DO NOT EXCEED THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN THE COST OF LIVING?
Now that you have heard the proposed ballot language, if the election were being held today would you vote yes and approve the ballot question or would you vote no and reject it? 9 40% 9% 51% 48% 45% 6% 53% 36% 11% MEN WOMEN 62% 48% 45% 48% 43% TOTAL YES TOTAL NO UNDECIDED 7% 24% 14% 9% REPUBLICAN DEMOCRAT UNAFFILIATED
Now that you have heard the proposed ballot language, if the election were being held today would you vote yes and approve the ballot question or would you vote no and reject it? 9% 10 40% 51% TOTAL YES TOTAL NO UNDECIDED 38% 49% 52% 45% 47% 44% 61% 52% 35% 36% 13% 3% 9% 5% 12% 18-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65 PLUS
Now that you have heard the proposed ballot language, if the election were being held today would you vote yes and approve the ballot question or would you vote no and reject it? 9% 11 40% 51% TOTAL YES TOTAL NO UNDECIDED 55% 38% 46% 45% 51% 37% 57% 33% 48% 43% 52% 40% 7% 9% 12% 9% 9% 8% CC1 CC2 CC3 CC4 CC5 CC6
In your own words, please tell me why you would vote YES on and approve the ballot question. Please wait for the beep before you talk, when you are done just press the pound key to return to the survey and hear the next question. Stormwater damage is a significant impact on our infrastructure. And besides the fact that we need to comply with the lawsuit, and we have an agreement with Pueblo to clean our act up, and this is important, and it's got to be done, period. Male, Republican, 65+ The city needs to address the stormwater problems we have in the community and be a good neighbor to our downstream cities. Female, 55-64 Unaffiliated Sounds like something that's needed and if it's not funded this way, you'll have to take it out of something else, and since we're so tax averse around here, that means cutting things like police and fire, so yeah. No option. Male, 35-44, Democrat I feel like we need to do something about our stormwater situation and I think that if we don't get a grip on it now then we're going to have a bigger situation to deal with later. Male, 35-44, Unaffiliated 12
In your own words, please tell me why you would vote NO and reject the ballot question. Please wait for the beep before you talk, and when you are done just press the pound key to return to the survey and hear the next question. I don't like the idea that the City Council would be able to raise the fees without the vote of the populations, that's why I vote no. Male, 65+, Unaffiliated I don't trust the City Council to use good judgment on the increases. Female, 18-34, Republican I don't want the city council to have the authority to increase the fees by themselves and stuff, some type of citizen review. Better yet put it on the ballot. Male, 65+, Unaffiliated We've already had this stormwater fiasco before. Male, 65+, Republican Our local government with tax increases, and then coming and having the nerve to come back and ask for them again. Failed to deliver on their initial promise. As an example, I would look to the repaving of our roads. Twice we have seen taxes on it and twice...well we will see what happens this go around. Female, 35-44, Democrat 13
14 MESSAGE TESTING ON STORMWATER
15 Message Testing Introduction I am now going to read to you statements and general information explaining why city officials are likely to ask voters to approve the reinstatement of a stormwater fee this November. After hearing the information, I want you to tell me if you are much more likely or somewhat more likely to support the ballot question. If the information makes no difference in your decision to support the ballot question, just say so. Let s get started.
16 The Messages Colorado Springs Does Not Have a Stormwater Fee Virtually every city in America, including other cities in Colorado, funds its stormwater program through a fee assessed on residential and commercial properties. Colorado Springs does not have a stormwater fee. Since the city stormwater fee was eliminated in 2009, the city has had major problems managing the stormwater program with inadequate funding. This problem has resulted in lawsuits being filed by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Colorado Department of Health and Environment against Colorado Springs, alleging that the City has violated its water quality permit. Pueblo County and the Lower Arkansas River Water Conservancy District have joined in the suit against the city. Therefore, there is a strong need to reinstate a stormwater fee. Pueblo Agreement - $17 to $20 Million/Year Commitment As you may know, the city signed an agreement with Pueblo County last year to deliver water from the Pueblo Reservoir to the city over the next 40 to 50 years. This agreement committed the city to spend an average of $17 to $20 million dollars a year from 2016 to 2035 on stormwater infrastructure, maintenance and operations. The city is asking voters to approve the stormwater fee so they can meet the obligations in the agreement, and secure the city s water needs for decades to come.
17 The Messages (Continued) No Fee, City Would Still Pay Pueblo Out of General Fund Even if voters do not approve the reinstatement of a stormwater fee, the city will still need to pay $17 to $20 million dollars each year for the next 20 years to meet its stormwater obligations. Without the fee, the $17 to $20 million dollars in stormwater obligations must come from the city s general fund. This will result in the City being unable to adequately fund its police force, the fire department, public works, transportation services and parks system. Stormwater Fee Limited to 20 years The proposed stormwater fee is limited to 20 years, and will expire at that time. Fee Can Only be Used to Fund Stormwater Infrastructure By law, a stormwater fee can only be used to fund stormwater infrastructure, maintenance and operations. It cannot be used for unrelated expenditures.
18 The Messages (Continued) Comparable or Lower than Other Cities in CO The proposed stormwater fee amounts for residential and commercial property are comparable to or lower than other cities in Colorado. Investing in Critical Stormwater Infrastructure-Good Economic Times Investing in critical stormwater infrastructure during good economic times is the prudent thing to do. By approving the stormwater fee we can invest in much needed stormwater infrastructure, and meet our legal obligations.
19 Ranking Messages by Much More Likely Would Pay from Gen. Fund 36% 17% 42% 5% Only Fund Stormwater Infrastructure 35% 18% 42% 5% Infrastructure Investment 30% 18% 47% 5% No Current Stormwater Fee 30% 21% 41% 8% Comparable to Others 29% 20% 47% 4% Pueblo Agreement 28% 23% 43% 6% Limit to 20 Years 25% 17% 53% 5% Much More Likely No Difference Somewhat More Likely Unsure or No Opinion
20 STORMWATER INFORMED BALLOT TEST
Now that you have heard some information about reinstating a stormwater fee for the city, if the election were being held today would you vote YES and approve the ballot question, or would you vote NO and reject it? 21 5% 56% 64% 35% 60% 41% 29% 3% 7% MEN WOMEN 55% 72% 60% TOTAL YES TOTAL NO UNDECIDED 39% 38% 20% 5% 8% 3% REPUBLICAN DEMOCRAT UNAFFILIATED
Now that you have heard some information about reinstating a stormwater fee for the city, if the election were being held today would you vote YES and approve the ballot question, or would you vote NO and reject it? 35% 5% 60% 22 TOTAL YES TOTAL NO UNDECIDED 51% 49% 55% 56% 38% 39% 65% 62% 30% 31% 7% 5% 5% 6% 18-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65 PLUS
Now that you have heard some information about reinstating a stormwater fee for the city, if the election were being held today would you vote YES and approve the ballot question, or would you vote NO and reject it? 35% 5% 60% 23 TOTAL YES TOTAL NO UNDECIDED 65% 58% 63% 58% 56% 58% 32% 38% 33% 38% 36% 35% 3% 4% 4% 4% 8% 7% CC1 CC2 CC3 CC4 CC5 CC6
24 Uninformed vs. Informed Stormwater Issue Ballot Test 51% 60% 40% 35% 9% Uninformed 5% Informed Yes No Undecided
DEMOGRAPHICS 25
26 Demographics 53% 47% 26% 37% 18% 10% 9% MALE FEMALE 18-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ 80% 26% 22% 52% 5% 6% 9% White Hispanic/ Latino Black/ African American Other Republican Democrat Unaffiliated