ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY SERVICES

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY GOVT. SERVICES

Fall 1995

I am going to read a list of Anne Arundel County government services. Please rate the value received for your tax dollar — Is it a Good Buy, an Okay Buy, or a Poor Buy. (Please see next question also for Spring 2000 response)

Service	Good Buy %	Okay Buy %	Poor Buy %
Anne ArundelCommunity College N=347	88	11	1
Public Schools(K thru 12) N=328	56	31	14
Public Libraries N=370	79	18	3
Parks andRecreation N=371	63	31	7
Cultural Arts N=296	39	41	20
Police Dept. N=373	68	27	5
Fire Dept. N=374	79	19	2
Trash CollectionN=369	72	24	3
Water and Sewer Services N=333	61	27	11
Public HealthServices N=260	52	40	8
Senior CitizensServices N=267	61	30	9

Spring 2000

I am going to read a list of Anne Arundel County government services. Please rate

the value received for your tax dollar — Is it a Good Buy, an Okay Buy, or a Poor Buy.

Service

Good Buy %

Okay Buy %

Poor Buy %

Don't Know %

Public Libraries N=428

81

15

2

2

Fire Dept. N=428

78

18

3

2

Anne Arundel Community College N-427

76

9

2

14

Trash collection and curbside recycling N=426

68

20

8

4

Police Dept. N=427

66

26

6

2

Recreation and Parks N=428

65

22

9

4

Public Schools (K thru 12) N=427

46

30

15

9

Water and Sewer Services N=427

46

28

15

12

Public Health Services N=425

40

32

7

21

Senior Citizens Services N=423

39

20

8

32

Road maintenance and repair N=426

35

37

27

1

Cultural Arts N=427

32

34

16

17

Planning and zoning services

19

35

29

17

Spring 1997

I am going to read you a list of County services. For each, please tell me whether you

would support charging users of these services the following fees over and above

current taxes to obtain a higher level of service.

Service

Pay a Fee %

Won’t pay Fee %

Don’t know %

Charge a $200 fee on each family who sends their children to public schools N=450

26

70

4

Charge a $25 fee for fire and ambulance responses to your home N=450

62

36

2

Charge a $25 fee for police responses to your home N=450

41

56

2

Charge an additional yearly $25 driver’s license fee for road resurfacing N=448

27

71

3

Charge $2 for each library book checked out N=450

12

86

2

Charge a $5 technology fee at the Community College N=448

46

45

9

Spring 1997

Some people believe that the County should try to find ways to cut back

in some areas in order to provide more services elsewhere. I am going

to read a list of government services. Please tell me whether County

government should spend about the same amount, more, or less than

Service

Same %

More %

Less %

Don’t Know

Schools N=447

19

72

5

4

Fire N=447

56

36

4

5

Police N=447

40

52

5

3

Roads N=447

52

29

15

5

Planning and Zoning N=447

38

15

38

9

Social Services N=447

39

28

25

8

Health Department N-446

46

32

14

8

Library N=446

56

31

10

3

Parks and Recreation N=446

57

28

12

4

Seniors’ Centers N=445

46

37

7

9

Environmental OversightN=443

35

41

19

6

Spring 2004

Some people believe that the county should try to find ways to cut back in some areas in
order to provide more services elsewhere. I am going to read a list of government services.
Please tell me whether county government should spend about the same amount, more,
or less than it currently does on that area.

Service

Same %

More %

Less %

Don’t know %

Cases

Libraries

67

26

6

1

369

Fire

43

53

2

2

370

Police

35

60

4

1

370

Community college

44

46

7

3

369

Roads

49

43

6

3

369

Planning and zoning

42

13

39

7

369

Social services

43

34

17

5

368

Health department

54

32

9

5

368

Public schools

23

71

5

1

368

Parks and recreation

57

26

16

2

368

Seniors’ services

45

44

7

4

369

Environmental programs

44

39

15

2

369

Average percentage

46

41

11

3

369

SPRING 2000

Anne Arundel County government provides a wide array of services to local
residents. To what extent do you rely on each of the following sources when

you want to find out about County services, or otherwise want to keep up

with policies and events conducted by County government: Your choices

are: very little, somewhat, or a lot.

Source

A lot %

Somewhat %

Very Little%

Unsure

Local newspapers N=420

48

29

21

2

Major TV network news N-418

45

28

25

2

Discussions with friends or family N=410

37

40

23

0

Newsletters and notices provided by a community association N=415

27

35

35

4

Local radio programs N=419

22

31

45

3

Direct mail from County agencies N=413

11

33

52

4

Brochures or newsletters from County agencies found at public libraries or other govt. buildings N=405

10

28

58

4

Telephone calls to County offices N=415

9

22

65

4

The local government channels on Cable TV N=420

8

20

68

4

Visits to County offices N=411

6

13

77

5

Newsletters or other information from elected officials N=410

6

22

69

4

Visits to the County web site N=411

6

13

75

6

Spring 2008
You may have read that the county may not have enough money to pay for raises that were promised in contract negotiations with teachers and other union employees. Which of the following should the County do?

Options

Choose one only %

Raise fees or taxes to pay for the promised raises

23

Try to pay the promised raises by cutting other services or programs

47

Postpone the promised raises

20

Don’t know, no answer

10

Spring 2009
As county government prepares for the upcoming 2010 fiscal budget, it will consider how to cut spending. As I mention an area of spending, tell me whether spending should be reduced, kept the same or increased as government seeks to balance its budget.

Service

Reduced %

Kept the same %

Increased %

Don’t know %

Libraries

8

64

26

2

Fire department

2

50

46

2

Police department

5

41

53

1

The community college

6

49

41

4

Roads

10

51

39

1

Planning and Zoning

29

49

13

9

Social Services

16

45

35

4

Health Department

13

46

34

6

Public Schools

6

35

58

2

Parks and Recreation

17

59

22

3

Seniors’ services

7

52

39

3

Environmental Oversight

18

47

31

4

Spring 2013
The county’s elected officials must determine local spending on infrastructure such as roads, schools and parks. When I read a type of infrastructure spending, indicate whether you consider it to be a high priority, a medium priority or a low priority.

High%

Medium%

Low%

Unsure/NA

Rebuilding or replacing the police training academy

18

35

35

12

Rebuilding or replacing the schools in your community

50

27

20

3

Rebuilding or replacing the roads servicing your community

43

37

19

1

Rebuilding or replacing public parks used by your community

13

39

46

2

Rebuilding or replacing police or fire stations servicing your community

31

35

28

6

Rebuilding or replacing the current computer and email system used by the county

16

26

37

21

Providing additional public transportation options to your community

36

28

31

4

Rebuilding or replacing your local library

15

33

48

4

Rebuilding or improving facilities at Anne Arundel Community College

25

39

24

12

Providing additional recreational access to the Chesapeake Bay

23

29

41

7

Fall 2014
Do you support or oppose the following policies that might be considered by state or county government?

Support%

Oppose%

Unsure/NA%

Removing speed cameras and losing $300,000 in county income

44

47

9

Increasing the salary of the next county executive from $130,000 to $142,000

19

74

7

. Doubling the number of high schools over the next 20 years, but making them much smaller than current high schools

54

32

14

Increasing the county’s income tax rate to help create a high school in Crofton

28

62

10

1

2

3

0

The County's storm water fee, which pays for repairs of storm pipes and waterways to decrease pollution, will generate $17 million next year and $22 million the following year. Do you feel this fee – currently costing $85 a year for a single family home - is too low, too high, or just right?

1.Too low
5%

2.About right

46%

3.Too high

38%

0.NA

11%

Which option to you prefer – cutting property taxes by 3 percent, or adding more county services related to education or public safety

1.Cut taxes

52%

2.Add services

41%

3.Unsure

4%

0.NA

3%

Spring 2015
Do you support or oppose the following policies that might be considered by state or county government…

Support%

Oppose%

Unsure/NA%

Eliminate state taxes on police, fire and military retirement income

49

39

12

Repeal the automatic adjustment in gasoline taxes linked to inflation and make the General Assembly have to vote each time it wants to raise gasoline taxes

76

18

7

Increase tax breaks for those who contribute to private or religious schools

36

54

10

Force farmers to closely monitor and if necessary reduce their use of chicken manure and reduce phosphorous pollution into the Chesapeake Bay

74

17

10

Reduce the anticipated funding to the public schools in order to balance Maryland’s budget

21

71

8

Reduce state workers’ salaries to help balance Maryland’s budget

19

72

9

Close local public libraries or reduce hours to save money

18

79

3

Service	Pay a Fee %	Won’t pay Fee %	Don’t know %
Charge a $200 fee on each family who sends their children to public schools N=450	26	70	4
Charge a $25 fee for fire and ambulance responses to your home N=450	62	36	2
Charge a $25 fee for police responses to your home N=450	41	56	2
Charge an additional yearly $25 driver’s license fee for road resurfacing N=448	27	71	3
Charge $2 for each library book checked out N=450	12	86	2
Charge a $5 technology fee at the Community College N=448	46	45	9

Service	Same %	More %	Less %	Don’t Know
Schools N=447	19	72	5	4
Fire N=447	56	36	4	5
Police N=447	40	52	5	3
Roads N=447	52	29	15	5
Planning and Zoning N=447	38	15	38	9
Social Services N=447	39	28	25	8
Health Department N-446	46	32	14	8
Library N=446	56	31	10	3
Parks and Recreation N=446	57	28	12	4
Seniors’ Centers N=445	46	37	7	9
Environmental OversightN=443	35	41	19	6

Service	Same %	More %	Less %	Don’t know %	Cases
Libraries	67	26	6	1	369
Fire	43	53	2	2	370
Police	35	60	4	1	370
Community college	44	46	7	3	369
Roads	49	43	6	3	369
Planning and zoning	42	13	39	7	369
Social services	43	34	17	5	368
Health department	54	32	9	5	368
Public schools	23	71	5	1	368
Parks and recreation	57	26	16	2	368
Seniors’ services	45	44	7	4	369
Environmental programs	44	39	15	2	369
Average percentage	46	41	11	3	369

Source	A lot %	Somewhat %	Very Little%	Unsure
Local newspapers N=420	48	29	21	2
Major TV network news N-418	45	28	25	2
Discussions with friends or family N=410	37	40	23	0
Newsletters and notices provided by a community association N=415	27	35	35	4
Local radio programs N=419	22	31	45	3
Direct mail from County agencies N=413	11	33	52	4
Brochures or newsletters from County agencies found at public libraries or other govt. buildings N=405	10	28	58	4
Telephone calls to County offices N=415	9	22	65	4
The local government channels on Cable TV N=420	8	20	68	4
Visits to County offices N=411	6	13	77	5
Newsletters or other information from elected officials N=410	6	22	69	4
Visits to the County web site N=411	6	13	75	6

Options	Choose one only %
Raise fees or taxes to pay for the promised raises	23
Try to pay the promised raises by cutting other services or programs	47
Postpone the promised raises	20
Don’t know, no answer	10

Service	Reduced %	Kept the same %	Increased %	Don’t know %
Libraries	8	64	26	2
Fire department	2	50	46	2
Police department	5	41	53	1
The community college	6	49	41	4
Roads	10	51	39	1
Planning and Zoning	29	49	13	9
Social Services	16	45	35	4
Health Department	13	46	34	6
Public Schools	6	35	58	2
Parks and Recreation	17	59	22	3
Seniors’ services	7	52	39	3
Environmental Oversight	18	47	31	4

	High%	Medium%	Low%	Unsure/NA
Rebuilding or replacing the police training academy	18	35	35	12
Rebuilding or replacing the schools in your community	50	27	20	3
Rebuilding or replacing the roads servicing your community	43	37	19	1
Rebuilding or replacing public parks used by your community	13	39	46	2
Rebuilding or replacing police or fire stations servicing your community	31	35	28	6
Rebuilding or replacing the current computer and email system used by the county	16	26	37	21
Providing additional public transportation options to your community	36	28	31	4
Rebuilding or replacing your local library	15	33	48	4
Rebuilding or improving facilities at Anne Arundel Community College	25	39	24	12
Providing additional recreational access to the Chesapeake Bay	23	29	41	7

	Support%	Oppose%	Unsure/NA%
Removing speed cameras and losing $300,000 in county income	44	47	9
Increasing the salary of the next county executive from $130,000 to $142,000	19	74	7
. Doubling the number of high schools over the next 20 years, but making them much smaller than current high schools	54	32	14
Increasing the county’s income tax rate to help create a high school in Crofton	28	62	10
	1	2	3	0
The County's storm water fee, which pays for repairs of storm pipes and waterways to decrease pollution, will generate $17 million next year and $22 million the following year. Do you feel this fee – currently costing $85 a year for a single family home - is too low, too high, or just right?	1.Too low 5%	2.About right 46%	3.Too high 38%	0.NA 11%
Which option to you prefer – cutting property taxes by 3 percent, or adding more county services related to education or public safety	1.Cut taxes 52%	2.Add services 41%	3.Unsure 4%	0.NA 3%