Thread by @shayshinecastle

On to the library funding poll. Mayor Jones reminds council that the discussion is NOT about the ballot measure, or their opinions on it.

Something I didn't see in the memo: 500 phone surveys were conducted, and 1,031 online. It was in and around Boulder, including Niwot, Gunbarrel and the mountain communities.

This is a REALLY long presentation. 41 slides! Egads.

49% of survey respondents said they were frequent, frequent or moderate users.
17.4% were light users
24.8% were very light users
8% reported no library use

34.9% said they considered themselves "advocates" for the library system
22.5% said they were "loyal users"
1.7% said they were dissatisfied with the library

77.4% said they definitely (38.6%) or somewhat (38.8%) support more funding for the library.
11.2% said they definitely (7.4%) or probably (3.8%) oppose more funding.

However, when you get into the actual numbers (your taxes will go up by this much) it declines a bit.

At $280 per year (for a house worth $850,000), 15% would definitely support and 30.2% would probably support.
23% would definitely oppose, and 15.2% would probably oppose.

For some reason, the surveyors keep citing data where the "unsure/don't know" responses are removed. It certainly paints a rosier picture. Weaver asks why.
"Most of the time, the undecided will fall out very similarly to those who have already made a decision," says survey guy.

Jerry Lindsley, from the Center for Research & Public Policy.

Support does increase the lower the additional tax burden.
At $220/yr: 49.8% definitely or probably support (they stopped breaking these out individually at lower levels)
At $160/yr: 57.2% support
At $90/yr: 67.2% support

Brockett asks how big a factor it is that it was the third ask. Like, ppl agree just bc the amount keeps getting smaller.
Lindsley says he thinks it's not an issue.

Yates follows up with a similar concern. Like shouldn't you ask the $90 question first?
Lindsley: Our clients don't usually ask for that. This is the way we do it.

I just ate some peanuts and some dude shot me a look bc they made a bit of noise in the container. Bro, if I gotta be here for 6+ hours, I'm gonna eat. Friggin' deal with it.

Q from Jones: Did ppl ask how much they are paying now? Is that relevant?
The survey was just about *additional* taxes. How much MORE ppl would be willing to pay for the library.

This was all just property tax, btw. But actually the largest group (34.4%) wanted a combo of sales and property tax. Just 15.6% wanted property tax only, and 29.4% preferred sales tax.

The library prefers property tax bc it's more stable. Sales tax is flat/below inflation here.

Didn't see this in the memo either (though I may have just missed it in the 831 pages): 45.4% strongly or somewhat support a district; 24.4% were somewhat or strongly opposed. 30.2% were unsure.

Support was actually stronger among those outside of the city of Boulder. 35-40% of library users are from outside the city.

Lindsley is saying the high amount of satisfaction and frequent utility of the library matters maybe more than the money, bc those ppl will "probably" turn out to support something they love.

"We see strong support and strong affinity for your library in Boulder."

Yates: Other survey co. have told us that you want at a minimum 60-65% favorable to (kinda) guarantee success at the polls. Has that been your experience?
Lindsley: Not at all. Not. At. All. It's all about the messaging.

Weaver: "The reasons you're talking about, organized opposition campaign, is the reasons ppl look to start high. The erosion that can occur due to a negative campaign" can swing it.

Q from Jones: When you say a referendum would pass, are you referring to a district or a tax?
Lindsley: Our task was to see at what level ppl would support. We're saying there's a high chance it would pass, even at the high level.

That's all for that one, folks.
Please unroll @threadreaderapp. Thank you!