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Using Citizen Surveys

The UW-Eau Claire Political Research Institute conducts non-partisan citizen surveys to measure political opinions, ensure objectivity and anonymity, and provide valuable feedback to local governments. Mail surveys offer cost-effective means to gauge public sentiment and allow for complex question construction.

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Using Citizen Surveys

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  1. Using Citizen Surveys Geoffrey D. Peterson Director, UW-Eau Claire Political Research Institute

  2. The Political Research Institute • The UW-Eau Claire Political Research Institute works to enhance lines of communication between the governed and those who govern. • The PRI provides non-partisan consultations for local governments, non-profit organizations, and fellow institutions of higher education • Founded in 2001 by the political science department at UW-Eau Claire

  3. Citizen Surveys • Designed to measure citizen opinion on important political issues • Working through UW-Eau Claire ensures objectivity and anonymity to respondents • Response rates are high and draw significant interest from the public

  4. Why Mail Surveys? • Mail surveys are cost effective • They guarantee that all members of the community have a chance to respond • Mail surveys give respondents a chance to consider questions at length • Allows for more complex question construction

  5. Types Of Questions

  6. Forced Choice: • “To which of the following would you be most opposed to cutting: snowplowing, park maintenance, or road maintenance?” • “In your opinion, which department in the city provides you with the best value for your tax dollar: police, parks and recreation, or road maintenance?”

  7. Open-Ended Questions “Please give your impressions of the city council.” “If you had to name the most important issue facing the City in the next decade, what would it be?”

  8. Issue Priority Questions • “Please rank the following issues facing the city in order of importance from 1 (highest) to 5 (lowest): cutting taxes, improving city parks, long-term growth planning, improving road surfaces, economic development planning.” • “From the following list, please choose the three issues you believe should be the highest priorities for the city government in the next budget cycle.”

  9. Chippewa Falls Citizen Survey

  10. RESPONSE RATE • 1,944 total responses for a response rate of 31.69% • Responses were reasonably balanced from most of the community, with some over-representation of seniors and homeowners. • Consistent with response rates with similar surveys

  11. RESIDENCY

  12. PERCENTAGE TAX INCREASE

  13. RAW DOLLAR TAX INCREASE

  14. TAX MATCHING ACCURACY

  15. TAX MATCHING & RESIDENCY

  16. TAX MATCHING BY INCOME

  17. TAX MATCHING & SENIORS

  18. CUT SERVICES OR RAISE TAXES?

  19. GROWTH

  20. WASTE IN CITY GOVT?

  21. WASTE BY INCOME

  22. Give you a broader base of information Give you timely feedback Provide you with a greater pool of opinion Educate the public about the issues facing your community Allow you to judge where citizen priorities truly are What Can Surveys Do For You?

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