2021 Budget Consultation Survey

Houston 2021 Budget Survey

Budget planning is one of the most important functions of Municipal government. Council for the District of Houston would like to gather information from the public about how they would like to see their tax dollars utilized. The results of this survey will be compiled and taken into consideration during the 2021 budget planning process. If you have any questions in regard to this survey, please contact communications@houston.ca.

To answer the survey it is important to keep these things in mind:

The District has the following sources of revenue to pay for services and infrastructure throughout Houston: property taxes, utility fees, user fees, reserves, and grants. Debt can also be used as a source of funding (only for capital infrastructure financing and not to support ongoing operations), but it is important to limit debt to a manageable amount and understand that there are long-term interest payments that accompany debt.

The revenue listed above contributes to paying for services and infrastructure throughout the District, including emergency services, transportation networks, road maintenance, snow removal, leisure facility, etc.

Each year the District must have a balanced budget, meaning we cannot spend more on services and infrastructure than we are receiving in revenue. Surplus and reserve funding can also be used to balance the budget, but this is basically the same as drawing from our savings and is subject to conditions. Due to inflation, revenues must continuously increase if we want to maintain our levels of service.

Question Title

* 1. Which answer below best describes your living situation?

Owns a home within the District of Houston

Rents within the District of Houston

Does not live in the District of Houston but accesses the District often for services

Owns a business in the District of Houston

Owns a business and a home in the District of Houston

None of the above

Question Title

* 2. How familiar are you with the District of Houston's budget and budget planning processes? You do not need to be familiar with the budget to participate in this survey, we just want to assess how familiar the community is with our budget.

Extremely familiar

Very familiar

Somewhat familiar

Not so familiar

Not at all familiar

Question Title

* 3. What do you feel are the top 5 most important community issues in Houston? (Choose only 5)

Accessibility

Access to Health Services

Access to Recreation Opportunities

Addiction, Overdoses, and Mental Health

Age-targeted Programs and Services

Air Quality

Arts, Culture, and Heritage

Climate Change & Environmental Sustainability

COVID-19 response, recovery, and support

Economic Diversification and Development

Governance, Transparency, & Engagement Opportunities

Infrastructure Maintenance & Renewal, including sewer, water, and roads

Public Safety

Reliable Transportation Networks, including trails, walking paths, and sidewalks

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 4. What do you feel are the top 5 most important services/programs that the District of Houston provides? (Choose 5)

Animal Control

Arts, Culture, and Heritage

Bylaw Enforcement

Cemetery Services

Claude Parish Memorial Arena

Community Grant Writing Services

Emergency Services: Fire, Road Rescue, and Medical

Facilitating Economic Development

Garbage Collection

Information, Customer Service, Public Engagement

Leisure Facility Pool & Fitness Centre

Maintenance of Parks, Greenspaces, and Trails

Managing Public Funds

Planning & Development Services

Road Construction & Maintenance

Sewers, Water, & Stormwater Management

Snow Removal

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 5. Please rate the following services based on how well you feel they are delivered by the District to the community?

	Excellent	Good	Satisfactory	Poor	Very Poor	I Don't Know
Animal Control	Animal Control Excellent	Animal Control Good	Animal Control Satisfactory	Animal Control Poor	Animal Control Very Poor	Animal Control I Don't Know
Arts, Culture, & Heritage	Arts, Culture, & Heritage Excellent	Arts, Culture, & Heritage Good	Arts, Culture, & Heritage Satisfactory	Arts, Culture, & Heritage Poor	Arts, Culture, & Heritage Very Poor	Arts, Culture, & Heritage I Don't Know
Bylaw Enforcement	Bylaw Enforcement Excellent	Bylaw Enforcement Good	Bylaw Enforcement Satisfactory	Bylaw Enforcement Poor	Bylaw Enforcement Very Poor	Bylaw Enforcement I Don't Know
Cemetery Services	Cemetery Services Excellent	Cemetery Services Good	Cemetery Services Satisfactory	Cemetery Services Poor	Cemetery Services Very Poor	Cemetery Services I Don't Know
Claude Parish Memorial Arena	Claude Parish Memorial Arena Excellent	Claude Parish Memorial Arena Good	Claude Parish Memorial Arena Satisfactory	Claude Parish Memorial Arena Poor	Claude Parish Memorial Arena Very Poor	Claude Parish Memorial Arena I Don't Know
Community Grant Writing Services	Community Grant Writing Services Excellent	Community Grant Writing Services Good	Community Grant Writing Services Satisfactory	Community Grant Writing Services Poor	Community Grant Writing Services Very Poor	Community Grant Writing Services I Don't Know
Emergency Services: Fire, Road Rescue, and Medical	Emergency Services: Fire, Road Rescue, and Medical Excellent	Emergency Services: Fire, Road Rescue, and Medical Good	Emergency Services: Fire, Road Rescue, and Medical Satisfactory	Emergency Services: Fire, Road Rescue, and Medical Poor	Emergency Services: Fire, Road Rescue, and Medical Very Poor	Emergency Services: Fire, Road Rescue, and Medical I Don't Know
Facilitation of Economic Development	Facilitation of Economic Development Excellent	Facilitation of Economic Development Good	Facilitation of Economic Development Satisfactory	Facilitation of Economic Development Poor	Facilitation of Economic Development Very Poor	Facilitation of Economic Development I Don't Know
Garbage Collection	Garbage Collection Excellent	Garbage Collection Good	Garbage Collection Satisfactory	Garbage Collection Poor	Garbage Collection Very Poor	Garbage Collection I Don't Know
Information, Customer Service, and Public Engagement	Information, Customer Service, and Public Engagement Excellent	Information, Customer Service, and Public Engagement Good	Information, Customer Service, and Public Engagement Satisfactory	Information, Customer Service, and Public Engagement Poor	Information, Customer Service, and Public Engagement Very Poor	Information, Customer Service, and Public Engagement I Don't Know
Leisure Facility Pool & Fitness Centre	Leisure Facility Pool & Fitness Centre Excellent	Leisure Facility Pool & Fitness Centre Good	Leisure Facility Pool & Fitness Centre Satisfactory	Leisure Facility Pool & Fitness Centre Poor	Leisure Facility Pool & Fitness Centre Very Poor	Leisure Facility Pool & Fitness Centre I Don't Know
Maintenance of Parks, Greenspaces, and Trails	Maintenance of Parks, Greenspaces, and Trails Excellent	Maintenance of Parks, Greenspaces, and Trails Good	Maintenance of Parks, Greenspaces, and Trails Satisfactory	Maintenance of Parks, Greenspaces, and Trails Poor	Maintenance of Parks, Greenspaces, and Trails Very Poor	Maintenance of Parks, Greenspaces, and Trails I Don't Know
Managing Public Funds	Managing Public Funds Excellent	Managing Public Funds Good	Managing Public Funds Satisfactory	Managing Public Funds Poor	Managing Public Funds Very Poor	Managing Public Funds I Don't Know
Planning & Development Services	Planning & Development Services Excellent	Planning & Development Services Good	Planning & Development Services Satisfactory	Planning & Development Services Poor	Planning & Development Services Very Poor	Planning & Development Services I Don't Know
Road Construction & Maintenance	Road Construction & Maintenance Excellent	Road Construction & Maintenance Good	Road Construction & Maintenance Satisfactory	Road Construction & Maintenance Poor	Road Construction & Maintenance Very Poor	Road Construction & Maintenance I Don't Know
Sewers, Water, & Stormwater Management	Sewers, Water, & Stormwater Management Excellent	Sewers, Water, & Stormwater Management Good	Sewers, Water, & Stormwater Management Satisfactory	Sewers, Water, & Stormwater Management Poor	Sewers, Water, & Stormwater Management Very Poor	Sewers, Water, & Stormwater Management I Don't Know
Snow Removal	Snow Removal Excellent	Snow Removal Good	Snow Removal Satisfactory	Snow Removal Poor	Snow Removal Very Poor	Snow Removal I Don't Know

Question Title

* 6. The District is required to have a balanced budget each year. What broad policy tools do you prefer for ensuring that the District is taking in enough revenue to offset the costs of service provision?

Increased User Fees for services such as the Leisure Facility, Arena, and Cemetery

Slight Property Tax Increase to maintain current level of service

Larger Property Tax Increase for a higher level of service

Increased Utility Fees

No Property Tax Increase and a reduction in service levels

Introduce new user fees for services that currently have no fee

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 7. What do you think the property tax change should be in 2021 based on your expectations for services and infrastructure investment?

4% Increase to Property Taxes - increased investment in level of service and infrastructure maintenance (Generates approximately $177,200 in revenue)

No Property Tax Increase - reduces service levels and infrastructure maintenance

5% Increase to Property Taxes - substantially increases the level of investment in service level and infrastructure (Generates approximately $221,500 in revenue)

2% - 2.5% Increase to Property Taxes - generally maintains existing level of service (Generates an approximate revenue increase of between $88,600 and $110,750)

2.5% - 3% Increase to Property Taxes - maintains the existing level of service, while keeping pace with inflationary pressures and legislated requirements (Generates an approximate revenue increase between $110,750 - $132,900)

1% Increase to Property Taxes - Does not keep pace with inflation, may require a reduction in services and infrastructure investment (Generates approximately $44,300 in revenue)

Decrease Property Taxes - substantial decrease in service levels and infrastructure investment

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 8. If you answered in favor of a property tax increase above 2.5%, what services would you like to see improved?

Animal Control

Arts, Culture, and Heritage

Bylaw Enforcement

Cemetery Services

Claude Parish Memorial Arena

Community Grant Writing Services

Emergency Services: Fire, Road Rescue, and Medical

Facilitation of Economic Development

Garbage Collection

Information, Customer Service, and Public Engagement

Leisure Facility Pool and Fitness Centre

Maintenance of Parks, Greenspaces, and Trails

Managing Public Funds

Planning & Development Services

Road Construction and Maintenance

Sewers, Water, and Stormwater Management

Snow Removal

N/A

Question Title

* 9. If you answered in favour of a property tax increase of 2% or less, no increase, or a decrease in taxes, what services would you like to see decreased?

Animal Control

Arts, Culture, and Heritage

Bylaw Enforcement

Cemetery Services

Claude Parish Memorial Arena

Community Grant Writing Services

Emergency Services: Fire, Road Rescue, and Medical

Facilitation of Economic Development

Garbage Collection

Information, Customer Service, and Public Engagement

Leisure Facility Pool & Fitness Centre

Maintenance of Parks, Greenspaces, and Trails

Managing Public Funds

Planning & Development Services

Road Construction and Maintenance

Sewers, Water, and Stormwater

Snow Removal

N/A

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 10. Costs increase each year for maintaining current service levels. In regards to snow removal services, how do you feel the District should continue?

Maintain the current level of snow removal service with a slight increase in property taxes

Improve the level of snow removal service with an increase to property taxes

Lower the level of service for snow removal to lower taxes for the service (i.e lower the frequency of clearing, higher thresholds)

Investigate ways to make residents more responsible for snow removal around their properties to lower snow removal costs (i.e driveways & sidewalks)

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 11. What age group do you belong to?

Under 18

18-24

25-34

35-44

45-54

55-64

65+

Question Title

* 12. Gender: How do you identify?

Man

Non-binary

Woman

Prefer to self-describe, below

Self-describe:

Question Title

* 13. How did you find out about the District's 2021 Budget Survey?

Facebook

Twitter

www.houston.ca

Friend

District Staff

Newspaper

Google

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 14. In what ways would you prefer to engage with the District about future budget planning activities?

Survey

Budget Summary

Open House

Public Forum

Facebook Live

Neighborhood Meetings

Question Title

* 15. How would you prefer to stay informed about District initiatives?

Voyent Alert notification system

Facebook

Twitter

Newspaper

Website

Newsletter

Other (please specify)