2012.02.07
Roanokers are mostly satisfied
Take a look at the results of Roanoke 2011 Citizen Survey conducted by the Virginia Tech Center for Survey Research. Roanokers are a mostly satisfied lot.
One line that sticks out is this: “City government officials actively involve citizens in the business of government.” The approval rating is back up at 63.2 percent. This had plummeted to 48.7 percent during 2007 when people perceived they were being dictated to rather than governed. Could explain why the mayor/council race is so very quiet this time.
Also notable: Residents notice the stepped up policing, code enforcement and neighborhood efforts. They also lament the loss of services eliminated during recent budget cuts: the bagged leaf collection, reduced mowing of parks, streets and rights-of-way.
Not sure how much of that might be added back in now that revenues are holding their own, as budgeting is still in the early stages. If I were crowned budgetmaker for a day and could add back one rather inexpensive item, it would be the flower baskets.
What would you change?
