Pepperell Community SurveyPriorities and Revenue Options

Pepperell continues to face financial pressure from rising costs of utilities, equipment, and health insurance. While we continue to find cost-effective options for service provision, we don’t control the rising costs directly and are heavily restricted in our ability to raise revenues. The Select Board has authorized this survey to gauge sentiment for service reductions and increasing taxes.

Question Title

* 1. How long have you lived in town?

Less than 1 year

1-5 years

More than 5 and up to 10 years

More than 10 and up to 20 years

More than 20 years

Question Title

* 2. Do you own or rent your home?

Own

Rent

Prefer not to answer

Question Title

* 3. What is your age group?

Under 25

25-44

45-64

65+

Question Title

* 4. What is your household income?

Under $30,000 per year

$30,000 - $59,999 per year

$60,000 - $99,999 per year

$100,000 or more per year

Community Priorities

Question Title

* 5. Rate the importance to you of each of these services (1 = Not important, 5 = Extremely important)

	1 (Not Important)	2	3	4	5 (Extremely Important)
Fire	Fire 1 (Not Important)	Fire 2	Fire 3	Fire 4	Fire 5 (Extremely Important)
Library	Library 1 (Not Important)	Library 2	Library 3	Library 4	Library 5 (Extremely Important)
Local Businesses	Local Businesses 1 (Not Important)	Local Businesses 2	Local Businesses 3	Local Businesses 4	Local Businesses 5 (Extremely Important)
Police	Police 1 (Not Important)	Police 2	Police 3	Police 4	Police 5 (Extremely Important)
Public K-12 Education	Public K-12 Education 1 (Not Important)	Public K-12 Education 2	Public K-12 Education 3	Public K-12 Education 4	Public K-12 Education 5 (Extremely Important)
Recreation Areas	Recreation Areas 1 (Not Important)	Recreation Areas 2	Recreation Areas 3	Recreation Areas 4	Recreation Areas 5 (Extremely Important)
Recreation Programs	Recreation Programs 1 (Not Important)	Recreation Programs 2	Recreation Programs 3	Recreation Programs 4	Recreation Programs 5 (Extremely Important)
Road Maintenance	Road Maintenance 1 (Not Important)	Road Maintenance 2	Road Maintenance 3	Road Maintenance 4	Road Maintenance 5 (Extremely Important)
Senior Services	Senior Services 1 (Not Important)	Senior Services 2	Senior Services 3	Senior Services 4	Senior Services 5 (Extremely Important)
Transfer Station	Transfer Station 1 (Not Important)	Transfer Station 2	Transfer Station 3	Transfer Station 4	Transfer Station 5 (Extremely Important)
Water Quality	Water Quality 1 (Not Important)	Water Quality 2	Water Quality 3	Water Quality 4	Water Quality 5 (Extremely Important)

Other (please specify)

Funding Preferences

Question Title

* 6. If more revenue is needed, which options would you support (Select all that apply)

An increase in property taxes through override

Increase in local option meals tax

Increased user fees /permitting fees

A split tax rate where residential homes pay a different rate than commercial property

I do not support new taxes or fees

Comments

Willingness to pay

Question Title

* 7. Rate services listed in order of your willingness to pay additional taxes in order to support the service. (1 = not willing, 5 = very willing)

	1 (Not willing)	2	3	4	5 (Very willing)
Capital Infrastructure	Capital Infrastructure 1 (Not willing)	Capital Infrastructure 2	Capital Infrastructure 3	Capital Infrastructure 4	Capital Infrastructure 5 (Very willing)
Education	Education 1 (Not willing)	Education 2	Education 3	Education 4	Education 5 (Very willing)
General Government	General Government 1 (Not willing)	General Government 2	General Government 3	General Government 4	General Government 5 (Very willing)
Library	Library 1 (Not willing)	Library 2	Library 3	Library 4	Library 5 (Very willing)
Public Safety	Public Safety 1 (Not willing)	Public Safety 2	Public Safety 3	Public Safety 4	Public Safety 5 (Very willing)
Public Works	Public Works 1 (Not willing)	Public Works 2	Public Works 3	Public Works 4	Public Works 5 (Very willing)
Recreation	Recreation 1 (Not willing)	Recreation 2	Recreation 3	Recreation 4	Recreation 5 (Very willing)
Senior Center	Senior Center 1 (Not willing)	Senior Center 2	Senior Center 3	Senior Center 4	Senior Center 5 (Very willing)
Transfer Station	Transfer Station 1 (Not willing)	Transfer Station 2	Transfer Station 3	Transfer Station 4	Transfer Station 5 (Very willing)

Question Title

* 8. If services are to be cut, rank your preference. Items placed at the top of your list will be cut first; items at the bottom will be cut last.

Question Title

* 9. What services would you like to see in town?

Question Title

* 10. If you support new taxes, what is your primary reason?

Question Title

* 11. If you do not support new taxes, what is your primary concern?

Question Title

* 12. Additional Comments

Question Title

* 13. Which day and time would you prefer the Annual and Special Town Meetings?

Mondays beginning at 7:00 PM

Saturday beginning at 10:00 AM

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 14. Would you support Regionalization of departments/services if Pepperell is not the host community?

Yes

Question Title

* 15. How would you like information on the Town government and activities be presented to you? (Choose all that apply).

Quarterly e-Newsletter

Town Website

Town Facebook

Town X (Twitter)

Pepperell Community Media

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 16. Do you believe that the Town of Pepperell is in financial trouble?

Yes

Maybe

Do not Know