City Budget Recommendations - Chamber Members

Number of records in this survey: 635

 

1. To what extent are you aware of the City's budget situation?
Answer Count Percentage
Aware of the details 339 53.39%  
Don't know the details 251 39.53%  
Not aware of situation 27 4.25%  
No answer 18 2.83%  

2. How important to our residents and/or to your business is the City's financial situation?
Answer Count Percentage
Critical 310 48.82%  
Important 280 44.09%  
Somewhat important 24 3.78%  
Not important 2 0.31%  
Other 1 0.16%  
No answer 18 2.83%  

3a. If you were in the City Manager's chair, what approach to reducing expenses would you likely take?[Ranking 1]
Answer Count Percentage
Across the board cuts in all departments (includes police, fire, streets) - $38.5 million 175 27.56%  
Strategic cuts resulting in reduction of public services - $23 million 114 17.95%  
Significant reductions or elimination of non-critical services (i.e., libraries, economic development, senior citizens assistance) - $35.7 million 93 14.65%  
Smaller reductions or elimination of non-critical services - $9.4 million 141 22.20%  
Non completed or Not displayed 112 17.64%  

3b. If you were in the City Manager's chair, what approach to reducing expenses would you likely take?[Ranking 2]
Answer Count Percentage
Across the board cuts in all departments (includes police, fire, streets) - $38.5 million 61 9.61%  
Strategic cuts resulting in reduction of public services - $23 million 179 28.19%  
Significant reductions or elimination of non-critical services (i.e., libraries, economic development, senior citizens assistance) - $35.7 million 150 23.62%  
Smaller reductions or elimination of non-critical services - $9.4 million 133 20.94%  
Non completed or Not displayed 112 17.64%  

3c. If you were in the City Manager's chair, what approach to reducing expenses would you likely take?[Ranking 3]
Answer Count Percentage
Across the board cuts in all departments (includes police, fire, streets) - $38.5 million 73 11.50%  
Strategic cuts resulting in reduction of public services - $23 million 181 28.50%  
Significant reductions or elimination of non-critical services (i.e., libraries, economic development, senior citizens assistance) - $35.7 million 149 23.46%  
Smaller reductions or elimination of non-critical services - $9.4 million 120 18.90%  
Non completed or Not displayed 112 17.64%  

3d. If you were in the City Manager's chair, what approach to reducing expenses would you likely take?[Ranking 4]
Answer Count Percentage
Across the board cuts in all departments (includes police, fire, streets) - $38.5 million 214 33.70%  
Strategic cuts resulting in reduction of public services - $23 million 49 7.72%  
Significant reductions or elimination of non-critical services (i.e., libraries, economic development, senior citizens assistance) - $35.7 million 131 20.63%  
Smaller reductions or elimination of non-critical services - $9.4 million 129 20.31%  
Non completed or Not displayed 112 17.64%  

4. Please indicate the top 3 expense areas you would reduce to help balance the 2011 budget. (Some areas have been grouped for the purpose of this survey.)
Answer Count Percentage
Police 70 11.02%  
Fire 66 10.39%  
Planning, zoning and development 82 12.91%  
Libraries, parks, community centers, etc. 101 15.91%  
Road construction, street repairs 27 4.25%  
Facility maintenance 55 8.66%  
City code enforcement, animal care and control 98 15.43%  
Municipal court services 48 7.56%  
Economic and community development programs 118 18.58%  
Resident communication / customer service 111 17.48%  
Administrative services - financial management, legal, human resources 183 28.82%  
Pension contributions to City employees' retirement funds 268 42.20%  
New vehicle purchases 363 57.17%  

5a. If you were in the City Manager's chair, what approach to increasing revenues would you take?[Ranking 1]
Answer Count Percentage
Across the board - consider tax increases, homestead exemptions, gas well revenue and rainy day funds. 124 19.53%  
Use only options that are applied to both operating budget and debt service (tax-related); funds are ongoing. 141 22.20%  
No tax increases. Use only a portion of rainy day and gas well funds (only available for one year) 258 40.63%  
Non completed or Not displayed 112 17.64%  

5b. If you were in the City Manager's chair, what approach to increasing revenues would you take?[Ranking 2]
Answer Count Percentage
Across the board - consider tax increases, homestead exemptions, gas well revenue and rainy day funds. 86 13.54%  
Use only options that are applied to both operating budget and debt service (tax-related); funds are ongoing. 347 54.65%  
No tax increases. Use only a portion of rainy day and gas well funds (only available for one year) 88 13.86%  
Non completed or Not displayed 114 17.95%  

5c. If you were in the City Manager's chair, what approach to increasing revenues would you take?[Ranking 3]
Answer Count Percentage
Across the board - consider tax increases, homestead exemptions, gas well revenue and rainy day funds. 312 49.13%  
Use only options that are applied to both operating budget and debt service (tax-related); funds are ongoing. 34 5.35%  
No tax increases. Use only a portion of rainy day and gas well funds (only available for one year) 175 27.56%  
Non completed or Not displayed 114 17.95%  

6. Please indicate the top 3 revenue options you would consider to help balance the 2011 budget.
Answer Count Percentage
Raise property taxes by 2 cents 124 19.53%  
Raise property taxes by 4 cents 60 9.45%  
Reduce homestead exemption (does not include senior tax freeze, over 65 or disabled) 105 16.54%  
Eliminate homestead exemption (does not include senior tax freeze, over 65 or disabled) 28 4.41%  
Use rainy day funds that exceed required reserve balances 308 48.50%  
Use gas well revenue from property tax on minerals 390 61.42%  
Use gas well revenue from bonuses, royalties and pipeline licenses 426 67.09%  
Transportation user / developer impact fees 149 23.46%  

7. Years you have lived in Fort Worth
Answer Count Percentage
0-10 163 25.67%  
10-25 110 17.32%  
25-40 127 20.00%  
Over 40 110 17.32%  
Non completed or Not displayed 125 19.69%  

8. Years your company / organization has been in business in Fort Worth
Answer Count Percentage
0-10 109 17.17%  
10-25 100 15.75%  
25-40 104 16.38%  
over 40 197 31.02%  
Non completed or Not displayed 125 19.69%  

9. Please indicate industry that best describes your business.
Answer Count Percentage
Automotive 4 0.63%  
Aviation/Aerospace 13 2.05%  
Banking 54 8.50%  
Call Center 0 0.00%
Construction / Property development 30 4.72%  
Energy 15 2.36%  
Health care 16 2.52%  
Legal 19 2.99%  
Logistics 9 1.42%  
Manufacturing 21 3.31%  
Media 8 1.26%  
Non-profit 60 9.45%  
Professional Services 94 14.80%  
Real Estate 62 9.76%  
Retail 10 1.57%  
Other 82 12.91%  
Non completed or Not displayed 138 21.73%  

10. What best describes your position in your organization?
Answer Count Percentage
Owner / president / partner 198 31.18%  
Management 142 22.36%  
Mid-management 63 9.92%  
Sales / marketing 72 11.34%  
Operations 16 2.52%  
Other 11 1.73%  
Non completed or Not displayed 133 20.94%  

11. How many employees in your organization?
Answer Count Percentage
1-10 107 16.85%  
10-50 139 21.89%  
50-100 54 8.50%  
100-200 46 7.24%  
200-500 60 9.45%  
500+ 104 16.38%  
Non completed or Not displayed 125 19.69%