The local economy appears to be doing as well as the national one according to a survey conducted April 6-9 by the Center for the Study of Local Issues (CSLI) at Anne Arundel Community College. The Center focused its survey on economic development, job satisfaction and employer-provided benefits, which are themes of a "Town Meeting" from 7:30-9 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, in the AACC Pascal Center for Performing Arts. This meeting is free and open to the public.

The CSLI poll of 521 county residents found that three quarters of the sample (76 percent) thought that economic conditions in the county were good or excellent, with a slightly smaller percentage (69 percent) saying the same about the economic prospects for the next five years.

By contrast to previous surveys that tended to emphasize problems with growth and transportation as key concerns, this poll gave mixed results. About 28 percent of those polled identified growth issues (overpopulation, overdevelopment, transportation) as the "most important problem facing the residents of Anne Arundel County." That was higher than crime (26 percent), education (17 percent) or taxes (7 percent).

However, when residents were asked whether the county "should more actively encourage growth and development to provide additional jobs closer to home," slightly under two thirds (63 percent) agreed. When asked how "serious are transportation problems in getting to work" only one fifth (20 percent) said "very serious" with a majority (58 percent) saying "not very serious." Among those polled, the typical commute was 25 minutes and about 19 miles from home to work. Most drive their cars to work (87 percent) with a few carpooling (6 percent) or using other means (7 percent).

Over half of the respondents lived and worked in Anne Arundel County (58 percent). The second most likely work destination was Prince George’s County (12 percent), followed by the District of Columbia (7 percent), Baltimore City (6 percent), Baltimore County (5 percent), Montgomery County and Howard County (3 percent). The median firm size was 60 employees.

Of those living and working in Anne Arundel County, over half (51 percent) were willing to "commute to another county to further your career." Of the total sample that was currently employed, over one third (37 percent) would "consider moving to another county to further your career."

The overwhelming majority of respondents only worked at a single job, although 13 percent claimed to have a second job.

The survey asked respondents to rate various aspects of their jobs as "excellent," "good," "fair," or "poor." Respondents were generally pleased with most aspects of their jobs, with 91 percent giving an "excellent" or "good" rating overall. Center Director Dan Nataf noted that "there was remarkably little variation among the thirteen aspects, with most having combined excellent or good ratings above 70 percent."

Most noneconomic aspects of jobs seemed to elicit a stronger favorable response than did economic ones. For example, the combined "excellent" and "good" scores for such aspects as "interest in the job itself" (86 percent), "relations with co-workers" (92 percent) and relations with superiors (85 percent) were high.

By contrast the equivalent scores for "pay/salary" (69 percent), health insurance coverage (68 percent) and "other benefits such as bonuses or subsidies" (39 percent) were lower.

In the middle were such factors as job security (77 percent), vacation time (77 percent), easy commute (77 percent), flexibility of working hours (72 percent), recognition for a job well done (73 percent) and distance from home (70 percent).

Another element of the survey focused on whether respondents currently obtained certain benefits. This was joined to a question about the importance of the benefit in an effort to discover gaps between benefits being provided and benefits sought.

Sixteen possible benefits were listed. The most widely available were health insurance coverage (84 percent), sick leave (84 percent), paid vacations (80 percent), seminars and training (76 percent), regular pay increases (74 percent), and flexible working hours (75 percent). Generally these were also the most desired benefits. (See Table 1).

Some benefits were provided in excess of respondents' perceived demand. For example, 76 percent of employers provided training and seminars, yet only 59 percent of respondents thought this "very important." Eighty-four percent of employers provided sick leave, but only 72 percent thought it very important.

Other benefits were not sufficiently provided. Bonuses were provided by 49 percent of employers, but rated very important by 59 percent of the sample. Employers provided child-care subsidies only 17 percent of the time, yet 33 percent rated them very important.

Nataf noted that "respondents didn't seem to value transportation benefits such as telecommuting (20 percent saying "very important") or ride-sharing incentives (21 percent), which most employers did not seem to offer (30 percent, 19 percent offered). This confirms the finding that most respondents did not think that commuting problems were very serious."

Other issues examined by the poll included questions related to the backlog in county public schools repair and renovation. In response to the proposal that the "county should apply surplus revenues to fixing this [repair and renovation backlog], rather than offering any tax cuts," 77 percent of the sample agreed. By contrast, when asked whether the "county should raise taxes somewhat to fix this problem," only 30 agreed. Only 18 percent agreed with the statement "The County should not give this problem any special priority," indicating a strong concern for this issue among the public.

Finally, when asked whether the tax cap "hurts the ability of the county to provide services to its citizens," only 29 percent of the sample agreed. According to Nataf, "CSLI polls have regularly found that only a third or so of the public has a problem with the tax cap."

The poll sampled 521 county residents 18 years of age or older. The poll has an overall margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent. The margin of error for subgroups is larger. Job satisfaction and benefits questions were only asked of those employed (350).

For more information on the survey or the Town Meeting, attend the meeting or call Nataf at 410-541-2733. Town Meeting panelists are: Remy Agree, special programs manager, Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services; Andrew L. Meyer, AACC vice president for continuing education and workforce development; Richard J. Morgan, president and CEO, Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation; Dan D. Nataf, CSLI director; Kevin B. O'Connor, president, Professional Firefighters Association for Baltimore County, Maryland and the District of Columbia; and Bert L. Rice, chairman, Anne Arundel County Council.

Table 1. Benefits Provided; Importance Rating