Summer 2004 Pennsylvania Township Officials Survey

Columnist : Lincoln Institute

Total Respondents: 106

1. Estimate the square miles of your township?
Response Percent Response Total
Under 10
6.9% 7
10 to 20
18.6% 19
20 to 30
34.3 % 35
30 to 40
16.7% 17
50 to 100
21.6% 22
100+
2% 2
Total Respondents 102
(skipped this question) 4
2. What was the range of your township’s fiscal 2003 general fund budget?
Response Percent Response Total
Under $1 million
55.7 % 59
$1 to $5 million
30.2% 32
$5 to $10 million
8.5% 9
$10 million to $15 million
3.8% 4
Over $15 million
1.9% 2
Total Respondents 106
(skipped this question) 0
3. How long have you served as a township official?
Response Percent Response Total
Less than 6 years
37.7 % 40
6-12 years
28.3% 30
More than 12 years
34% 36
Total Respondents 106
(skipped this question) 0
4. What political party do you belong to?
Response Percent Response Total
Democrat
27.7% 28
Republican
67.3 % 68
Independent
5% 5
Total Respondents 101
(skipped this question) 4
5. Which county is your township located in?
 Total Respondents  
106
(skipped this question) 0
6. What is the range of your earnings as a township official?
Response Percent Response Total
Less than $2,500
33.3% 35
$2,500 to $5,000
13.3% 14
$5,000 to $10,000
5.7% 6
Over $10,000
47.6 % 50
Total Respondents 105
(skipped this question) 1
7. What is the population of your township?
Response Percent Response Total
Under 10,000
78.3 % 83
10,000 to 20,000
16% 17
20,000 to 30,000
4.7% 5
30,000 to 40,000
0.9% 1
50,000 to 100,000
0% 0
100,000 +
0% 0
Total Respondents 106
(skipped this question) 0
8. What is the biggest problem facing your township?
Response Percent Response Total
Low Commercial Tax Base
14.7% 14
Aging Infrastructure
10.5% 10
Affordable Housing
3.2% 3
Lack of Medical Facilities
0% 0
Emergency Medical Services
1.1% 1
Sprawl
15.8% 15
Roadway Conditions/traffic problems
30.5 % 29
Trash Collection/disposal
0% 0
Law Enforcement/police protection
4.2% 4
Lack of Parks/recreational activities
2.1% 2
Concentrated Animal Feeding (CAFOs)
0% 0
Other (please specify)
17.9% 17
Total Respondents 95
(skipped this question) 11
9. How would you best describe your township?
Response Percent Response Total
Predominantly Rural
68.4 % 65
Predominantly Residential
29.5% 28
Predominantly Commercial
2.1% 2
Total Respondents 95
(skipped this question) 11
10. During your tenure how would you describe business growth in your township?
Response Percent Response Total
Significant Decline
1% 1
Some Decline
5.2% 5
No Change
30.2% 29
Some Growth
51 % 49
Significant Growth
12.5% 12
Total Respondents 96
(skipped this question) 10
11. If your township experienced growth during your tenure in office how would you describe your township’s efforts to maintain adequate services to residents?
Response Percent Response Total
Excellent
32.5% 27
Good
48.2 % 40
Fair
16.9% 14
Poor
2.4% 2
Total Respondents 83
(skipped this question) 22
12. If your township experienced residential, commercial or industrial growth during your tenure in office what would you say is the biggest problem associated with that growth?
Response Percent Response Total
Traffic
38 % 30
Crime
5.1% 4
Flooding/run-off
11.4% 9
Sewage
24.1% 19
Trash Collection/disposal
2.5% 2
Other (please specify)
19% 15
Total Respondents 79
(skipped this question) 26
13. Is open space preservation a high priority in your township?
Response Percent Response Total
Yes
52.6 % 50
No
29.5% 28
No opinion
17.9% 17
Total Respondents 95
(skipped this question) 11
14. If bringing new business to your township is a high priority, what type of business would you like to see develop?
Response Percent Response Total
Manufacturing
29.3% 22
Retail
9.3% 7
Tourism
6.7% 5
Office
10.7% 8
Service & Technology
30.7 % 23
Other (please specify)
13.3% 10
Total Respondents 75
(skipped this question) 30
15. Is development of new residential housing a high priority for your township?
Response Percent Response Total
Yes
16.8% 16
No
69.5 % 66
No opinion
13.7% 13
Total Respondents 95
(skipped this question) 11
16. Is development of new affordable housing a high priority for your township?
Response Percent Response Total
Yes
16.8% 16
No
70.5 % 67
No opinion
12.6% 12
Total Respondents 95
(skipped this question) 11
17. Is development of new retail shopping centers a high priority for your township?
Response Percent Response Total
Yes
12.6% 12
No
76.8 % 73
No opinion
10.5% 10
Total Respondents 95
(skipped this question) 11
18. Does your township have any inter-municipal agreements or inter-municipal authorities?
Response Percent Response Total
Yes
85.3 % 81
No
14.7% 14
Total Respondents 95
(skipped this question) 11
19. If your township does have inter-municipal agreements, how would you rate their effectiveness?
Response Percent Response Total
Very Effective
51.9 % 42
Somewhat Effective
39.5% 32
Not Very Effective
4.9% 4
Very Ineffective
3.7% 3
Total Respondents 81
(skipped this question) 25
20. Do you favor having your township enter into inter-municipal agreements?
Response Percent Response Total
Yes
82.1 % 78
No
3.2% 3
No opinion
14.7% 14
Total Respondents 95
(skipped this question) 11
21. If you favor inter-municipal agreements for your township, which type do you think would be most beneficial?
Response Percent Response Total
Police
10.8% 9
Sewer
14.5% 12
Planning & Zoning
28.9 % 24
Highway
12% 10
Purchasing
27.7% 23
Other (please specify)
6% 5
Total Respondents 83
(skipped this question) 23
22. If the General Assembly were to enact legislation to enable townships to implement or raise other taxes to lower property taxes, which tax would be your highest priority to impose or raise?
Response Percent Response Total
Earned Income Tax
50 % 43
Sales Tax
27.9% 24
Mercantile Tax
8.1% 7
Business Privilege Tax
7% 6
Other (please specify)
7% 6
Total Respondents 86
(skipped this question) 20
23. Do you favor or oppose slot machine gambling in Pennsylvania?
Response Percent Response Total
Favor
51.7 % 46
Oppose
30.3% 27
No opinion
18% 16
Total Respondents 89
(skipped this question) 17
24. Do you favor or oppose public referendum on property tax increases in Pennsylvania
Response Percent Response Total
Favor
52.2 % 47
Oppose
31.1% 28
No opinion
16.7% 15
Total Respondents 90
(skipped this question) 16
25. Do you favor or oppose Governor Rendell’s plan to borrow $1.5 billion for economic development and open space preservation?
Response Percent Response Total
Favor
44.4 % 40
Oppose
30% 27
No opinion
25.6% 23
Total Respondents 90
(skipped this question) 16
26. Have you read or heard about the conclusions of the recent Brookings Institution Report that blames failed state programs and the proliferation of local governments in Pennsylvania for the Commonwealth’s current economic and social problems?
Response Percent Response Total
Yes
75.3 % 67
No
24.7% 22
Total Respondents 89
(skipped this question) 17
27. How would you describe your opinion of the findings of the Brookings Institution Report?
Response Percent Response Total
Strongly Agree
1.4% 1
Somewhat Agree
34.2% 25
Somewhat Disagree
24.7% 18
Strongly Disagree
39.7 % 29
Total Respondents 73
(skipped this question) 33
28. How would you rank open space preservation in your township?
Response Percent Response Total
Very Important
44.3 % 39
Somewhat Important
38.6% 34
Somewhat Unimportant
8% 7
Very Unimportant
9.1% 8
Total Respondents 88
(skipped this question) 18
29. Does your township have a comprehensive plan?
Response Percent Response Total
Yes
81.3 % 74
No
18.7% 17
Don’t know
0% 0
Total Respondents 91
(skipped this question) 15
30. If YES, is it managed by the county or your township?
Response Percent Response Total
County
10.8% 8
Township
89.2 % 66
Total Respondents 74
(skipped this question) 32
31. If YES, how old is your comprehensive plan?
Response Percent Response Total
0 – 5 years
38.4 % 28
5 – 10 years
27.4% 20
Over 10 years
34.2% 25
Total Respondents 73
(skipped this question) 33
32. Do you believe that your township’s zoning ordinances are adequate and up-to-date?
Response Percent Response Total
Yes
48.2 % 41
No
36.5% 31
No opinion
15.3% 13
Total Respondents 85
(skipped this question) 21
33. What percentage of your township’s land mass would you estimate is developed, either residential or commercial?
Response Percent Response Total
0 -20%
34.9% 30
20 – 40%
41.9 % 36
40 to 60%
19.8% 17
Over 60%
3.5% 3
Total Respondents 86
(skipped this question) 20
34. Do you favor or oppose county government taking control of land use, planning and zoning in your township?
Response Percent Response Total
Strongly Favor
5.7% 5
Somewhat Favor
14.8% 13
Somewhat Oppose
21.6% 19
Strongly oppose
58 % 51
Total Respondents 88
(skipped this question) 18
35. IF state government were willing to fund only one of the following projects in your township which one would you choose?
Response Percent Response Total
Increased subsidies to farmers
5.6% 5
Improve township roads
50.6 % 45
Improve township libraries
0% 0
Additional funding for school district
10.1% 9
Improve emergency fire and rescue services
3.4% 3
Improve police department
5.6% 5
Improve township maintenance department
2.2% 2
Improve public transportation
0% 0
Improve affordable housing inventory in township
1.1% 1
Preserve more open space
14.6% 13
Improve park and recreational programs
2.2% 2
Other (please specify)
4.5% 4
Total Respondents 89
(skipped this question) 17
36. Does your township rely on the Pennsylvania State Police for routine daily patrols?
Response Percent Response Total
Yes
51.1 % 46
No
48.9% 44
Don’t Know
0% 0
Total Respondents 90
(skipped this question) 16
37. Duing your tenure in off has the township budget increased, decreased or stayed about the same?
Response Percent Response Total
Increased
76.7 % 69
Decreased
0% 0
Stayed About the Same
23.3% 21
Total Respondents 90
(skipped this question) 16
38. During your tenure in office has the township tax bill to residents increased, decreased or stayed about the same?
Response Percent Response Total
Increased
45.5% 40
Decreased
3.4% 3
Stayed About the Same
51.1 % 45
Total Respondents 88
(skipped this question) 18
39. During your term in office has the township’s tax bill to businesses increased, decreased or stayed about the same?
Response Percent Response Total
Increased
32.6% 29
Decreased
2.2% 2
Stayed About the Same
65.2 % 58
Total Respondents 89
(skipped this question) 17
40. Please provide us with any comments you would care to make on these or any other issues affecting township government in Pennsylvania.
Comments (new window)
 Total Respondents  
30
(skipped this question)
76

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