Our View: Survey says ... not much

Sarasota County’s annual citizens survey feels more like an exercise in putting on a happy face than in determining what residents actually think. If that is so, the county would be better served canning the survey and saving the $59,500.

The survey found the obvious — 39% of respondents cited the economy and jobs as the most important issue facing the county. Well, duh. The question, or follow-up question, if you must, is: How should the county go about improving the situation?

Every big government, little government, Keynsian, Austrian, conservative and liberal wants a strong economy and jobs and knows we don’t have either now. So that result isn’t helpful. The question is how to get there.

The answer is by offering the mother of all incentives: Get out of the way of new development and businesses by avoiding tax increases and streamlining or eliminating government impediments.

Some sacred cows in the community find their place near the bottom of importance in the survey. In the most-important-issue ranking, population growth and new development carried all of 3% of respondents, insurance issues garnered 0.9%, affordable housing was 0.3%, global warming was 0.3% and racial concerns was 0.3%.

Interestingly, the survey found that people are not moved by government scandal nearly as much as the media. The county’s contract-related scandal came in 27th out of 28 categories at a resounding 0.1%. The media has a role as watchdog, but that role should be far deeper and more consistent than the occasional scandal.

Maybe what the survey shows more than anything else is that the county should be focused on two main issues: the economy and public safety. Regarding the top priorities for the quality of life, good-paying jobs was first at 63%,and public safety was second at 54%. (Respondents could name more than one.) That is why the Sheriff’s Office gets the most general-fund money.

Despite a fair amount of angst among residents throughout the poll, the county media machine sent out the results with this headline: “Residents give high marks to county quality of life, budget and spending priorities.” Everything’s great! We’re doing a super job!

That is what is known as spin.

Despite the volume of data, it’s really hard to get a good feel because the survey is too vague. For instance, the survey asks: What is the most important issue facing Sarasota County today? Economy and jobs gets the 39%; second is government and elected officials at 7%; third is a tie between public schools and taxes, both at 6%.

But, other than the obvious fact that the economy and jobs are uppermost on most people’s minds, what does this tell us? Government and elected officials are an important issue. But are they doing well or poorly? Is government too big or too small? Public schools are an important issue. Are they important because they are doing a good job or because they tax too much or because we don’t pay teachers enough or pay them too much? Taxes are important. Too high or too low?

You really have to question the value of these results to county officials beyond “We’re doing great!”