Satisfaction survey shows decline in local governance confidence

By Collin Gallant on September 28, 2024.

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A “community satisfaction survey” of Hatters states most still are happy with the community and would recommend it as a place to live, but have plunging levels of confidence in local government.

Levels of satisfaction in “municipal government, including council and administrators” fell to 49 per cent – down from 81 per cent in a 2022 survey – with only seven per cent expressing high levels.

At the same time nine in 10 are satisfied with overall service they receive from the municipality and would recommend living here.

“A growing number feel that the quality of life has ‘worsened’ over the past three years, led by concerns over the rising cost of living and increased poverty/homelessness,” reads an executive summary. “Nonetheless, a strong majority continue to say they are likely to recommend Medicine Hat as a place to live.”

The survey is part of a program approved two years ago to gauge residential mood in the city.

The most recent was completed last May by Ipsos researchers just one month after a public dispute between city council members, Mayor Linnsie Clark and top administrators came into full public view in March.

The results were to be presented to council originally on Sept. 16, but was that moved to October due to a heavy agenda.

The city’s communication department released the results and full report Friday on the city’s website.

In comparison to 2022 results, “just less than half say they are satisfied with the city’s municipal government as a whole … aspects of the city’s municipal operations are less positive and have declined significantly from 2022,” the report states, citing lower marks for “accountability,” citizen input and “open government.”

Online responses were generally more critical than telephone results, the research found, while criticism was harshest overall from longer-term residents compared to more recent arrivals.

More tangible municipal operations, on the other hand, remained on par with results of a similar survey done two years ago, though more Hatters now say they would prefer service levels be cut to lower taxes.

Satisfaction with city services was highest for solid waste service and parks (each at 96 per cent), while recreation, cultural offerings, street maintenance and traffic management along with bylaw enforcement and transit, all scored above 70 per cent.

In terms of important of issues, the top four were, in order: social issues, city services, city leadership and the economy.

On questions of taxation and value for money, three in four respondents said they received “very” or fairly” good value for taxes from city services, just lower than previous levels.

But, 38 per cent said they would support increased taxes to expand or maintain service levels, down from 45 per cent on the same question in 2022.

This year, 44 per cent said they would prefer cuts to keep tax rates the same or lower.

Among the 10 per cent of residents who said life had improved over the last two years, city amenities, more job opportunities and the end of the COVID pandemic were the fastest growing reasons.

Among the 45 per cent who said life had worsened, most cited higher cost of living (35 per cent), poverty and homelessness (16 per cent) and city leadership (8 per cent).

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