TO
City of Salinas
FROM
Richard Bernard and Maya Gutierrez
FM3 Research
RE:
City of Salinas Community Satisfaction and Budget Priority Survey Results DRAFT DATE
June 11, 2024
Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (FM3) recently completed a survey of City of Salinas registered voters likely to vote in the November 2024 General Election to assess their views of key issues facing the community, including gauging support for a potential 1-cent sales tax continuation measure to maintain City services.
Key Findings
There is an overwhelming belief that the City of Salinas needs additional funding to provide the level of services that residents need and want (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Need for Additional Funding
After hearing a ballot title and summary, more than six-in-ten would vote yes on the proposed 1-cent sales tax continuation measure. In the initial vote—prior to respondents being provided information about the sales tax measure other than the 75-word ballot title and summary language, more than six-in-ten voters indicated that they would support the measure, which exceeds the 50% + 1 vote threshold for passage.
Voter support for the measure increases and intensifies after educational statements. Total support rises eight points to 72 percent, and the intensity of the yes vote increases 14 points, showing that providing more information to the public solidifies support (see Figure 2).
Figure 2: Initial and Post-Education Votes for Salinas City Services 1-Cent Continuation Measure Voters prioritize public safety, protecting drinking water sources and repairing streets as uses of City funds. Figure 3 below shows areas for City services that at least 85 percent of voters prioritize as "extremely" or "very important" to them, and these findings illustrate the emphasis Salinas voters place on public safety services.
Figure 3: Priorities for City Spending
% Rating "Extremely" or "Very Important," 85% or More
Priority
% Extremely/
Very Important
Helping prevent crimes, including thefts and burglaries 90%
Protecting local drinking water sources
90%
Keeping Salinas neighborhoods safe and clean
89%
Maintaining 911 response
89%
Repairing streets and potholes
89%
Recruiting and retaining well-trained firefighters and paramedics 88%
Maintaining safe routes to schools
87%
Keeping public areas safe and clean and available for everyone to use 87%
Recruiting and retaining well-trained firefighters
86%
Recruiting and retaining well-trained paramedics and EMTs 86%
The above findings show that a 1-cent sales tax continuation measure is viable with a continued educational effort. The measure is well-positioned for passage if voters are educated and engaged so that they understand the City’s needs.
Methodology: From May 28 through June 3, 2024, Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (FM3) conducted a survey among 427 likely November 2024 voters in the City of Salinas to assess the viability of a sales tax continuation measure.
The survey was conducted using a dual-mode methodology where voters were surveyed by telephone (cellular and landlines) or online in both English and Spanish. Voters were invited to take the survey online from email and text invitations.
The margin of error for the full sample is +/-4.9 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. The margin of error for questions asked of half the sample is +/-6.9 percentage points. *Not all results will sum to 100% due to rounding.
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