The second annual Hamilton County online citizen's survey showed that county residents support government service consolidation, online voting options, and redirecting some public health spending to preventative care.
More than 1,300 county residents chose to take the survey, down from last year's numbers. Less people probably voted because of a lack of an incentive, officials believe. Last year participants could be entered into drawings to use the county suite at Great American Ballpark and Paul Brown Stadium.
The survey, sponsored by the Hamilton County Administration, is aimed at finding out how residents feel about a range of issues and spending priorities. The
results can be found online and have been shared with the Board of County Commissioners and across the County Administration, said John P. Bruggen, Budget Supervisor in Hamilton County Office of Budget and Strategic Initiatives.
"The Administration is also planning to talk to some citizen groups about potentially using the survey results as a launching pad for a series of in-person civic engagement sessions on county issues," Bruggen said.
The results will be part of the information used for the county budgeting process which starts in October.
The online survey did draw hundreds of new people into the county budgeting process. Most, 84.1 percent, said they previously never had any input in the process. Almost half of the respondents lived near or in downtown, the rest were spread across the county.
Among the survey findings were:
- 72 percent supported the concept of consolidating Hamilton County and Cincinnati 911 services;
- 45 percent approved of a form of county land bank where the public funds would be used to buy underused property that would be held until a suitable use was found;
- 43.6 percent approved of charter government reform, which would consolidate some or all of the eight elected county offices such as sheriff, clerk of courts, engineer, etc;
- 44 percent believed that townships and other jurisdictions patrolled by the Hamilton County sheriff should reimburse the county for those patrols;
- 45 percent believe the county should pursue some form of internet-based voting;
- 52.6 percent think the county should make a public commitment to redirect healthcare resources toward preventative care.
In addition, there are a host of other topics covered, including public transportation, county payments for the Bengals and Reds stadiums and jail overcrowding.
Writer: Feoshia Henderson
Source: John P. Bruggen, Budget Supervisor in Hamilton County Office of Budget and Strategic Initiatives
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