Portland Parks & Recreation Bond Survey PREPARED FOR The Portland Parks & Recreation Department May, 2014 PRELIMINARY RESULTS.

Portland Parks & Recreation Bond Survey

PREPARED FORThe Portland Parks & Recreation Department

May, 2014

www.dhmresearch.com

PRELIMINARY RESULTS

http://www.dhmresearch.com/

DHM Research | PDX Parks & Rec Bond Survey, May 2014

Methodology

2

• Conducted May 21-23, 2014

• Likely voters in the city of Portland

• N=800, split sample N=400

• Averaged 15 minutes in length

• Margin of error N=800 +/- 3.5%, N=400 +/- 4.9%


City of Portland Program/Service Ratings

3

Affordable housing

Planning and sustainability

Police and public safety

Parks and recreation

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

6%

15%

21%

32%

30%

48%

61%

55%

35%

16%

12%

8%

10%

5%

2%

1%

19%

16%

Very good Good Poor Very poor DK

Indicate if you feel the quality of the program or service is very good, good, poor, or very poor.


Parks Facilities Ratings

4

Restrooms

Forest Park

Trails and bridges

Neighborhood playgrounds

Pioneer Courthouse Square

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

5%

28%

16%

19%

30%

32%

41%

55%

56%

51%

26%

4%

12%

11%

7%

9% 28%

26%

15%

12%

11%


Rate the condition of the facility as very good, good, poor, or very poor.


Ballot Test Split Sample A

5

Split Sample A (N=400): Improve park safety, accessibility; build playgrounds, trails, facilities; issue bonds.

“Shall Portland repair, build park facilities, playgrounds, trails; issue $68,000,000 bonds (estimated to maintain current tax rate); require audits? If the bonds are approved, they will be payable from taxes on property or property ownership that are not subject to the limits of sections 11 and 11b, Article Eleven of the Oregon Constitution.”

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

26% 22% 15% 26% 12%

Support, strongly Support, smwt Oppose, smwt Oppose, strongly DK

48% 41%


Ballot Test—Split Sample B

6

Split Sample B (N=400): Preserves natural area access, trails; build playgrounds, facilities; issue bonds.

“Shall Portland preserve natural area access, build playgrounds, facilities; issue $68,000,000 bonds (estimated to maintain current tax rate); require audits? If the bonds are approved, they will be payable from taxes on property or property ownership that are not subject to the limits of sections 11 and 11b, Article Eleven of the Oregon Constitution.”

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

22% 24% 15% 23% 15%


46% 41%


Why Support the Measure

7

Response Category

Split Sample A

N=189

Split Sample B

N=184

Important to maintain/support parks 33% 38%

Improvements/Needed/Necessary 21% 20%

Need parks for children/All to enjoy/For families 19% 18%

Community/Livability/Value of facilities 16% 12%

Supports measure 11% 5%

Keep them safe 8% 4%

Taxes will not increase 7% 7%

Need additional funding 3% 3%

Worth of money/Affordable cost 2% 1%

Am an environmentalist 0% 1%

All other responses1% or less

1% or less

Undecided/Need more information 0% 1%

Don’t know 1% 2%


Why Oppose the Measure

8

Response Category

Split Sample A

N=164

Split Sample B

N=154

No more taxes/Don’t know what it will cost 53% 52%

Government/Waste/Not spent as promised/Need better money management

14% 11%

Other things more important/Priorities 11% 10%

Too much money/Costly 7% 6%

Parks in good shape now/Unnecessary 7% 4%

No more spending/Bad economy/Don’t have money for it now

6% 10%

Have enough money not for this 5% 3%

Unfair to homeowner 3% 0%

Spend too much on parks already 1% 3%


3% or less


Don’t know 1% 1%


What Information Would Help You Decide?

9

Response Category

Split Sample A

N=47

Split Sample B

N=62

Need more information/Will research myself/Need specifics 43% 47%

How much will it cost/Taxes/How funded 20% 34%

No/Nothing 12% 5%

Where/which parks/Trail/What are the priorities 5% 5%

How the money will be used 2% 2%


2% or less


Don’t know 4% 10%


Support Level

10

This measure would replace an expiring general obligation bond which was used to fund improvements to Portland Parks. If the new measure passed there would be no increase in property tax rates. If it does not pass, the annual property tax rates paid by the typical household with an Assessed Value of about $150,000 could decrease by about $13.00.

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

40% 28% 10% 15% 7%


68% 25%


Possible Projects this Measure Could Fund

11

If repairs are made to Pioneer Courthouse Sq that fix major leaks, cracks and other urgent structural issues

If the funding pays for critical upgrades at maintenance facilities at Mt Tabor/Delta Park to protect worker safety

(Split A) If failing trails and bridges in the regional trail system are replaced and improved

(Split B) If failing trails and bridges in Forest Park are repaired and improved

If energy efficiency measures were addressed in Community Centers to allow for long-term savings and improved performance

If the funding pays for replacement of 20-30 playground structures that are old and a safety risk

If community swimming pools are renovated to prevent emergency closures/repairs made to extend useable life

If the funding pays for replacement of playgounds and community center structures to make them accessible to people with disabilities

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

34%

34%

36%

38%

39%

42%

39%

43%

34%

35%

34%

34%

34%

32%

36%

33%

16%

14%

14%

13%

13%

12%

11%

11%

10%

10%

10%

7%

9%

9%

9%

8%

Much more Smwt more Smwt less Much less DK


Reasons to Support

12

Pioneer Courthouse Square is structurally failing and needs repairs to make it safe for locals and visitors

More than 1/5th of all parks employees work at the Mt Tabor facility. This bond would make critical upgrades to the facility and protect

worker safety

The bond would repair bridges and trails, preserving access to natural areas/open spaces like Forest Park

By making these critical repairs, we will protect our parks for our children and future generations

Portland is renowned for its parks, natural areas and green spaces, all of which is an important factor that contributes to our economy

This bond will fund the most critical repairs to ensure our parks, playgrounds and trails stay open and safe

Portland Parks & Rec has been a good steward of park resources--this doesn't cost any more and supports our parks system

ADA Act--this bond will fund removing barriers making our parks/playgrounds more accessible to everyone

Because this bond replaces expiring bonds, it will not change the property tax rate you pay today

We can make critical repairs/address safety and access issues without increasing property tax rates

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

38%

37%

42%

41%

44%

46%

43%

46%

52%

46%

38%

41%

37%

39%

36%

34%

38%

35%

30%

37%

14%

12%

11%

10%

11%

9%

10%

9%

7%

6%

7%

6%

6%

6%

6%

6%

6%

6%

7%

6%



Reason to Oppose

13

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

30% 20% 22% 23% 4%


We all love parks, but Portland has serious challenges right now that must be addressed first. Our streets are crumbling, barely half our high school graduates on time, and too many people are out of work. This bond measure is just another example of the city having the wrong priorities. It’s time to say no to new taxes until Portland politicians show they can be responsible with our money.

Would you say this is a very good, good, poor, or very poor reason to oppose the bond measure?


Ballot Post Test

14

Initial Test

Post Test

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

26%

41%

22%

24%

15%

11%

26%

19%

12%

6%

Split Sample A

Support, strongly Support, somewhat Oppose, somewhat Oppose, strongly DK

Initial Test

Post Test

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

22%

38%

24%

26%

15%

12%

23%

16%

15%

8%

Split Sample B

Support, strongly Support, somewhat Oppose, somewhat Oppose, strongly DK

+17

+18


Demographics

15

75+

55-64

35-44

18-24

Male

The river to I-205

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

19%

20%

18%

24%

10%

7%

2%

47%

53%

30%

50%

20%


Demographics

16

Children under age 18 No

4-year college degree

High School graduate

Voting in 1, 2, 3 of last 4 elections

Non-affiliated/Other

Democrat

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

74%

25%

21%

32%

28%

16%

1%

64%

36%

17%

16%

67%


Demographics

17

$100,000 or more$75,000-$99,999$74,999-$50,000$49,999-$30,000

Less than $30,000

Go to parks NeverGoing to parks A few times a year

Going to parks Several times a monthGoing to parks Once/Twice a week

Ethnicity OtherEthnicity Native American/American Indian

Ethnicity Asian/Pacific IslanderEthnicity Hispanic/Latino

Ethnicity Black/African AmericanEthnicity White/Caucasian

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

12%15%

20%17%

15%

9%30%29%32%

2%1%2%2%3%

89%

Portland Parks & Recreation Bond Survey PREPARED FOR The Portland Parks & Recreation Department May, 2014 PRELIMINARY RESULTS.

Documents

split sample n

split sample b n

need parks

parks already1

response category split

city of portland n

parks facilities ratings4rate

ballot test split sample