Survey Results9-08

Results from Citizen Survey Now Available

9/3/08 — Results from the Town of Hillsborough’s second annual Citizen Survey are available now.

The town conducted the survey in June to garner feedback on various topics, including public safety, town management and communication.

The town randomly surveyed 620 households — approximately 25 percent of the population — by mail and received 187 responses, a 30 percent response rate. Experts in the survey field consider a 20 percent response rate as high.

Survey results will be used to develop, monitor and evaluate town priorities.

According to survey respondents, the biggest issues the town is facing are: growth and development; public safety; preserving the historic downtown; traffic; and the tax rate.

They believe the town can improve its services in public safety; taxes and fiscal policy; development; and communication.

Some highlights from the survey results are:

• 90 percent of respondents said Hillsborough is a safe place to live and work, up 3.62 percent from Fiscal Year 2007. However, the percentage of respondents who said they had an opportunity to interact or speak with Hillsborough police officers fell 17 points to 32 percent.

• 76 percent of respondents said the town is responsive to the needs of citizens, up 20 percent from FY07.

• 75 percent of respondents said they had access to town officials and staff when they had a concern.

• 88 percent of respondents said town employees treat customers courteously, and 87 percent believe town employees do their jobs in a professional manner.

• 72 percent of respondents said the town spent their tax dollars wisely, up 22 percent from the prior year’s survey.

• 74 percent of respondents felt informed about the town and its services.