A Survey of Voter Attitudes in Montgomery County, PA

The Tarrance Group, Inc., is pleased to present the findings from its most recent survey of Montgomery County voters. The survey was commissioned by the Montgomery County Lands Trust and was conducted January 22-23, 2003. The survey interviewed 300 registered "likely" voters throughout Montgomery County. The margin of error associated with a sample of this type is +5.7%.

SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS

The results of this survey show Montgomery County voters highly support a new open space preservation program. As the current countywide open space preservation program comes to a close, county voters show support for a new preservation program that continues the accomplishments of the current program.

An overwhelming majority of 89% of Montgomery County voters favor a new countywide open space preservation program, with 67% saying they "strongly favor" a new program. This opinion crosses gender lines, age differences and even political party persuasions as 88% of Republicans, 92% of Democrats and 88% of Independent voters favor a new program.

In examining where current county dollars are spent for preservation, 89% of voters feel protecting the amount and quality of our water is an "extremely or very important" program, and 76% of voters say preserving open space and natural land areas is an "extremely or very important" program. This shows the value county residents place on preservation programs.

Our conclusions are based on the following key findings from the survey:

KEY SURVEY FINDINGS

When voters are given a list of six issues and asked to mention their level of importance, the issue of protecting the amount and quality of our water receives the highest response with 83% saying it is "extremely or very important." Voters in the Sixth Congressional District who reside in Montgomery County are the most concerned with 57% saying it is "extremely important," and women say the issue is "extremely important" to them with 60% responding that way. Seniors are also very concerned about the quality and quantity of our water with 59% saying "extremely important."

The second highest responses come from open space and growth issues with 80% of voters surveyed saying the issue of preserving open space and natural land areas is "extremely or very important" and 80% saying the issue of controlling sprawl and over development is "extremely or very important" to them. These numbers show that Montgomery County voters care about protecting their natural land areas. Those voters who feel the strongest about preserving open space and natural land areas are county voters in the Sixth Congressional District (45% "extremely important"), women (47% "extremely important"), and voters ages 35 to 44 (46% "extremely important").

The issue of controlling traffic congestion is "extremely or very important" to 77% of voters followed by the issue of keeping taxes low with 76%. The issue of attracting new businesses to the area is "extremely or very important" to 47% of voters.

Respondents were also given a list of purposes for which county money is spent on land preservation. Eighty-nine percent (89%) of voters feel protecting the amount and quality of our water is an "extremely or very important" program (46% "extremely" and 43% "very"). Seniors say the program is "extremely or very important" with 94%.

Seventy-six percent (76%) of county voters say preserving open space and natural land areas is an "extremely or very important" program (30% "extremely" and 46% "very"). This program is important among voters ages 35 to 44 (83% "extremely or very important"), and working women (84% "extremely or very important").

Sixty-nine percent (69%) of voters feel the program of protecting farmland is "extremely or very important." County voters in the Sixth Congressional District feel strongly about this program with 78% saying it is "extremely or very important" to them.

Forty-seven percent (47%) of voters feel creating more parks and planting trees in urban communities is "extremely or very important." Voters in the Eastern part of the county are the most supportive with 51% saying "extremely or very important." Forty-five percent (45%) of voters feel the program of developing or redeveloping recreational park areas is "extremely or very important." Working women are very supportive of this program with 51% saying it is "extremely or very important." Another 33% of voters feel creating new hiking, biking, and walking trials is "extremely or very important" to them.

Montgomery County voters were asked if they would favor or oppose a "proposal to create a new county-wide, ten-year, open space preservation program to protect natural land areas, farmland, historic landscape areas, and to develop or enhance recreational park areas." Eighty-nine percent (89%) of voters say they would favor this preservation program, with 67% of voters saying they would "strongly favor" the program. This shows solid support among Montgomery County voters, and the support crosses partisan lines with 88% of Republicans favoring the open space preservation program, 92% of Democrats and 88% of Independent voters.

When asked if they would be willing to pay a little extra in county real estate taxes to help fund an open space preservation program, 61% of county voters say "yes, they would," and only 34% say, "no." Thirty-eight percent (38%) of voters say "yes strongly."

Furthermore, in a follow up question, voters are asked how much they would be willing to pay for an open space preservation program and 73% of voters choose a dollar amount to pay extra, while only 18% say they are not willing to pay anything. This 73% includes 22% who say they would be wiling to pay between one dollar and ten dollars, 26% who say they would pay between eleven dollars and thirty dollars; and a full quarter of voters (25%) saying they would be willing to pay more than thirty dollars for a preservation program. This shows countywide support for an open space preservation program and shows voters are willing to pay a little extra annually in order to help fund a program

Once voters hear that "over 4,400 acres of county land has been protected from over development" 84% of voters say they would be "more likely" to support a new open space preservation program, with 62% saying they feel "strongly" about this. This shows that the accomplishments of the current program truly do speak for themselves.

Another 88% of voters say hearing the statement "we should have a land preservation program that protects our natural habitat area so that current residents and future generations can enjoy the scenic beauty of our county's natural habitat areas" would make them "more likely" to support a new open space preservation program, and 70% of voters feel "strongly" in their opinion.
Box 300 • Lederach, Pennsylvania 19450 • Phone 215-513-0100 • Fax 215-513-0150 • info@mclt.org

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