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7 <br /> Page 48 <br /> Conclusions <br /> • Voters have a very positive feeling about the direction of things in Redwood City. This is <br /> reflected in the respondents' high regard for city services. However, while positive, <br /> respondents are notably less informed about the city's management of its finances and <br /> budget. <br /> • Storm drainage, street and sidewalk repair are considered the most important capital <br /> improvement projects. Less than half the respondents thought the fire department training <br /> tower and converting playfields to synthetic surfaces were important. <br /> • Only 54 percent of the respondents were aware of the city's utility users tax. But, when <br /> informed about it, 61 percent thought it was a good idea. <br /> • A majority of respondents, 56 percent, thought the five percent tax rate was about right, <br /> although 32 percent thought it was too high and seven percent thought it was too low. <br /> • Sixty-one percent support rewording the tax simply to keep the telephone portion in <br /> force. <br /> • When the concept of broadening the tax was first introduced, there was less support for it; <br /> 40 percent support this idea but 50 percent oppose it. <br /> • If the tax were broadened but the rate were reduced, support would increase substantially. <br /> When advised that broadening the tax and reducing the rate were revenue neutral, support <br /> increased to 49 percent and opposition dropped to 36 percent. <br /> • Local control and the fairness and the benign nature of the tax emerged as the strongest <br /> arguments for a measure. <br /> • The prohibition of internet taxes at the federal level is the strongest argument against <br /> such a tax at the local level. <br /> • In the ballot tests, 58 percent support broadening the tax and keeping the tax rate at five <br /> percent. Reducing the rate to four percent increases support to 73 percent. If undecideds <br /> are removed, these percentages become 61 percent and 78 percent, respectively. <br /> • It appears that a measure that maintains the five percent rate would win voter support <br /> with two important caveats. <br /> First, an election with a relatively high turnout would increase the likelihood of <br /> passage as there is evidence from the survey that voters with a lower propensity to <br /> vote will be more supportive of a measure than those who vote in every election. <br /> Second, it is important to look at the constituency that uses the internet, T-One and <br /> other non-traditional communication lines. Would they be concerned if the city <br /> -14- <br />