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More Calgarians in 2017 said their quality of life was 'good,' but the proportion of residents seeing value for their tax dollar has taken a three point dip. That's a snippet of what the results of the 2017 Citizen Satisfaction Survey, released Monday morning, have to say about Calgarians' contentment with the programs and services they receive.
The City of Calgary has conducted its annual Citizen Satisfaction Survey since 1997. Its findings have been used as a performance-based tool for City Council, staff and the public to understand how the City is meeting the needs of its population, particularly with respect to the quality and efficacy of programs and services.
The random survey was carried out with a 2,500 person sample between August 16 and September 10, 2017 using mobile and landline phones. A key takeaway from the report, 85 percent of Calgarians participating in the survey rated their quality of life as 'good,' a two percent rise from the 2016 results. The majority of Calgarians, 79 percent, are satisfied with the overall level of quality of City programs and services.
"We live in a very resilient city. As we enter a time of economic recovery, I am happy to hear Calgarians remain optimistic about the future and overall quality of life in Calgary," said Mayor Naheed Nenshi. "The research and data from the Citizen Satisfaction Survey is crucial and helps to inform the City and Council as we begin working together this year on the 2019-2022 budget process."
But an alarming 35 percent of Calgarians say quality of life in the city has declined in the past three years. Only 20 percent felt the same way in 2014, though the numbers represent a small decrease from the 37 percent registered in 2016. And while 60 percent of Calgarians say they receive good value for their property tax dollar, the choice between increased taxes or service cuts remains a statistical stalemate. Half of respondents registered their preference for tax increases, with 45 percent in support of service cuts instead.
Infrastructure, traffic and roads continues to be the top issue for Calgarians, while transit landed in second. Three-quarters of Calgarians believe the time is right for the City to invest in new projects like roads, public transportation and local facilities. Crime, safety and policing was the third most important issue for participants.
The detailed findings from the survey are available at calgary.ca/CitSat.
