Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The city is sending out a survey Friday to 4,000 randomly selected residents to find out what locals think about the job the city does and to help the city determine how to spend taxpayer money from the 2003 budget hearings.

It will cost the city about $25,000 to conduct the survey and to have it analyzed by a consultant. At no point will city officials look at the surveys or handle them, said Deputy City Manager Wendy DuBord.

The consultant, RRC Associates, will also conduct 300 telephone surveys with local residents to confirm the results of the written surveys.

"We are doing everything possible to ensure that the questions are sound, the process is scientific and that the results will accurately represent the citizens of the city of Steamboat Springs," City Council President Kathy Connell said.

As the city expands, officials have said the current revenue stream is not sufficient to pay for the city's growing needs. In order to deal with flattening revenues, the city will be making some tough decisions about where to allocate money and whether to put a tax question on this year's ballot.

City Council members have discussed putting a property tax on the ballot in November.

The numbers from the survey will help the city decide where to spend money and whether to go for a tax proposal. It will also help the city draft the Steamboat Springs Community Area Plan, said Steamboat Springs Planning Director Wendie Schulenberg.

"I think it will be valuable information for the community plan update," Schulenberg said.

In one question, the survey asks residents to imagine they had $100 to spend on city services. If they could allocate the money toward any programs they wanted, how would they split it up?

The results should be out in late April or early May, DuBord said.

County residents and others who do not receive surveys can call toll free (888) 449-4772, ext. 101, to get more surveys.

For more information, call 871-8219.