Citizen Survey
Jackson County, MS
April - May 2007
Project Overview
The USA Polling Group conducted a telephone survey for the Jackson County, Mississippi, Board of Supervisors. The target population included all adult residents of Jackson County. The primary purpose of the project was to gather data on the attitudes of area residents regarding quality of life, satisfaction with county government, and suggestions for improvements in government programs and operations.
Questionnaire
An appropriate survey instrument was developed by Ken Flanagan on behalf of Jackson County and Dr. Keith Nicholls, director of USA Polling Group. The questionnaire consisted of 38 items: a standard introduction, 30 questions regarding citizen attitudes, and seven demographic measures. Final approval of question wording and order was the responsibility of Jackson County officials.
Sample
A standard random-digit dialed sample of telephone numbers was obtained from ASDE Survey Sampler. In the initial contact, respondents were screened to insure residence in the target area. Within households, participants were randomized using most recent birthday criteria. With 553 completed interviews, sampling error for the survey is +/-4.2% at the 95% confidence level. This means we are 95% sure that these results are within 4.2% of the results that would have been obtained if we had interviewed the entire population.
Interviews
Telephone interviews were conducted at Polling Group facilities by employees of the Polling Group. A total of 553 interviews were conducted between April 5 and April 21, 2007. A total of 1059 households were contacted in order to obtain the 553 interviews, yielding a participation rate of 52%. For this type survey, this is a relatively high participation rate, reflecting the interests and cooperation of Jackson County citizens. Interviews took an average of 8.5 minutes, with the shortest taking 5 minutes and the longest taking 25 minutes.
1. How would you rate the overall quality of life for citizens in Jackson County?
Frequency Percent
Excellent 65 11.8
Good 348 62.9
Only fair 117 21.2
Poor 22 4.0
Don’t know 1
.2
Total 553 100%
2. In the next five years, do you expect the overall quality of life in Jackson County to get better, get worse, or stay about the same?
Frequency Percent
Better 310 56.1
Worse 47 8.5
About the same 182 32.9
Don’t know 14 2.5
Total
553 100%
3. Please, tell me how much you agree or disagree with the following statements. Public officials in Jackson County take action based on what people like me think.
Frequency Percent
Strongly agree 24 4.3
Agree 313 56.6
Disagree 163 29.5
Strongly disagree 28 5.1
Don’t know
25
4.5
Total
553
100%
4. Jackson County is business and economic development friendly.
Frequency Percent
Strongly agree 54 9.8
Agree 368 66.5
Disagree 104 18.8
Strongly disagree 15 2.7
Don’t know
12
2.2
Total
553
100%
5. County officials try to work with other city and community leaders for the betterment of the entire area.
Frequency Percent
Strongly agree 51 9.2
Agree 332 60.0
Disagree 116 21.0
Strongly disagree 21 3.8
Don’t know
33
6.0
Total
553
100%
6. Which of the following is your number one (and number two) source of information about what's happening in County government?
Percent Ranking #1 #2
Newspaper 50.8% 26.6%
Television 30.9 39.4
Radio 3.6 5.8
Word of mouth 7.6 10.7
Internet, the web 2.2 5.1
Cell phone messages 0.0 .2
Attending County meetings 4.9 3.1
7. How would you rate the job of the County when it comes to keeping citizens informed on important local government issues?
Frequency Percent
Excellent 39 7.1
Good 212 38.3
Only fair 231 41.8
Poor 66 11.9
Don’t know
5
.9
Total
553
100%
8. How often do you visit the County’s web site?
Frequency Percent
Regularly 35 6.3
Occasionally 106 19.2
Seldom 105 19.0
Never 305 55.2
Don’t know
2
.4
Total 553 100%
9. How would you rate the information contained on the County’s website. (Only those visiting the website are asked Q9)
Frequency Percent
Excellent 12 4.9%
Good 124 50.4
Only fair 93 37.8
Poor 8 3.3
Don’t know
9
3.7
Total 246 100%
10. Excluding emergency situations, like calling 911, have you contacted a County government official or employee in the last 12 months?
Frequency Percent
Yes 193 34.9%
No 359 64.9
Don’t know
1
.2
Total
553
100%
11. What was the purpose of the contact? (Only those who contacted officials are asked Q11-12)
Frequency Percent
Make a complaint 59 30.7%
Get Information 54 28.1
General County business 30 15.6
Request service 25 13.0
Other* 12 6.3 (Appendix #1)
Katrina Issues 05 2.6
Don’t know 04 2.1
Pay a compliment
03
1.6
Total
192
100%
12. How satisfied were you with the outcome of the contact? Would you say you were very satisfied, satisfied, dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
Frequency Percent
Very satisfied 50 26.0%
Satisfied 73 38.0
Neutral 3 1.6
Dissatisfied 23 12.0
Very dissatisfied 39 20.3
Don’t know
4
2.1
Total
192
100%
13. Do you believe there is a need for the Board of Supervisors to occasionally hold meetings at night?
Frequency Percent
Yes 483 87.3%
No 51 9.2
Don’t know
19
3.4
Total
553
100%
14. How satisfied are you with conditions at the County’s public waterfront locations, such as boat launches, piers, and beaches? Are you very satisfied, satisfied, dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
Frequency Percent
Very satisfied 18 3.3%
Satisfied 327 59.1
Neutral 16 2.9
Dissatisfied 96 17.4
Very dissatisfied 30 5.4
Don’t know/Not applicable 66
11.9
Total
553
100%
15. Can you tell me which waterfront locations you’re thinking of?
(Only “Dissatisfied and Very Dissatisfied” asked Q15.)
Frequency Percent
Dissatisfied/Very Dissatisfied 126 22.8%
Editor’s Note: 122 respondents mentioned a location. See Appendix #2.
16. How satisfied are you with conditions at County parks and sports facilities? Are you very satisfied, satisfied, dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
Frequency Percent
Very satisfied 47 8.5%
Satisfied 344 62.2
Neutral 7 1.3
Dissatisfied 73 13.2*
Very dissatisfied 14 2.5*
Don’t know/Not applicable 68
12.3
Total
553
100%
17. Can
you tell me which park or sports facility you’re thinking of?
(Only “Dissatisfied and Very Dissatisfied” asked
Q17.)
Frequency Percent
Dissatisfied/Very Dissatisfied 87 15.5%
Editor’s Note: 80 respondents mentioned a facility. See Appendix #3.
18. How satisfied are you with the operation of County community centers?
Frequency Percent
Very satisfied 45 8.1%
Satisfied 327 59.1
Neutral 25 4.5
Dissatisfied 37 6.7*
Very dissatisfied 3 .5*
Don’t know/Not applicable 116
21.0
Total
553
100%
19. Can you tell me which community center you’re thinking of? (Only “Dissatisfied and Very Dissatisfied” asked Q19.)
Frequency Percent
Dissatisfied/Very Dissatisfied 40 7.2%
Editor’s Note: 38 respondents mentioned a center. See Appendix #4
20. How satisfied are you with the maintenance of County buildings, such as the Courthouse Complex?
Frequency Percent
Very satisfied 32 5.8%
Satisfied 388 70.2
Neutral 23 4.2
Dissatisfied 45 8.1
Very dissatisfied 5 .9
Don’t know/Not applicable 60
10.8
Total
553
100%
21. How satisfied are you with animal control enforcement throughout the County?
Frequency Percent
Very satisfied 31 5.6%
Satisfied 271 49.0
Neutral 22 4.0
Dissatisfied 123 22.2
Very dissatisfied 56 10.1
Don’t know/Not applicable 50
9.0
Total
553
100%
22. How satisfied are you with the operations at the County Animal Shelter in Gautier?
Frequency Percent
Very satisfied 25 4.5%
Satisfied 213 38.5
Neutral 32 5.8
Dissatisfied 47 8.5
Very dissatisfied 29 5.2
Don’t know/Not applicable 207
37.4
Total
553
100%
23. How satisfied are you with the operation of the County landfill on Seaman Road?
Frequency Percent
Very satisfied 41 7.4%
Satisfied 204 36.9
Neutral 27 4.9
Dissatisfied 31 5.6
Very dissatisfied 11 2.0
Don’t know/Not
applicable 239
43.2
Total
553
100%
24. How satisfied are you with the operations of the County Planning Department?
Frequency Percent
Very satisfied 20 3.6%
Satisfied 284 51.4
Neutral 28 5.1
Dissatisfied 86 15.6
Very dissatisfied 28 5.1
Don’t know/Not applicable 107
19.3
Total
553
100%
25. How satisfied are you with the County’s zoning regulations?
Frequency Percent
Very satisfied 13 2.4%
Satisfied 290 52.4
Neutral 30 5.4
Dissatisfied 88 16.6
Very dissatisfied 20 3.6
Don’t know/Not applicable 108
19.5
Total
553
100%
26. Are there any particular County departments or offices that you feel should offer longer office hours?
Frequency Percent
None 413 74.7%
Tax Collector Office 76 13.7
Tax Assessor Office 40 7.2
Other*
26
4.7 (See Appendix #5)
Land Records Office
19
3.4
Planning Department 18 3.3
Circuit Clerk Office 18 3.3
Don’t know 18 3.3
Animal Shelter 16 2.9
Chancery Clerk Office 14 2.5
All Departments 14 2.5
Booking Community Centers
12
2.2
*multiple responses accepted; does not total 100%
27. Are there any particular County policies, processes or regulations that you feel should be more efficient or less time consuming?
Frequency Percent*
None 345 62.4%
Paying car tags 79 14.3
Other* 57 10.3 (See Appendix #6)
Paying property tax 46 8.3
Don’t know 36 6.5
Building permits 26 4.7
Obtaining land records 15 2.7
Sheriff’s Dept.
11
2.0
*multiple responses accepted; does
not total 100%
28. Are there any other specific areas or services where the County needs to improve?
Frequency Percent
None 227 41.0 %
Rural road improvements 147 26.6
Other (See Appendix #7) 103 18.6
Protecting the natural environment 41 7.4
Transportation Issues 41 7.4
More recreation events 39 7.1
Communication with citizens 37 6.7
Trash/Litter, Solid Waste 37 6.7
Don’t know 24 4.3
Service in the Planning Department 23 4.2
More access to Board of Supervisors 10 1.8
*multiple responses accepted; does not total 100%
29. The County currently funds several outdoor events like the Memorial Day Concert. Do you think it would be a good idea or a bad idea for the County to sponsor other outdoor activities, such as a marathon & fun run, cooking competition, or a boat regatta?
Frequency Percent
Good idea 463 83.7%
Neither/neutral 26 4.7
Bad idea 49 8.9
Don’t
know
15
2.7
Total
553
100%
30. Are there any other new programs or services you would like to see the County pursue?
Frequency Percent
None 343 62.0 %
More Entertainment Options 65 11.6
Other (See Appendix #8) 55 10.0
Neighborhood improvements 37 6.7
More involved with local education/students 34 6.2
More involved with health and safety issues 34 6.2
Youth Activities 33 6.0
Recreation 31 5.6
More involved with crime prevention 25 4.5
Improving the natural environment 22 4.0
Don’t know 18 3.3
More public research like this 16 2.9
Fostering a sense of community 15 2.7
Citizen
Complaint
Board
14
2.5
*multiple responses accepted; does not total 100%
31. Finally, for statistical purposes, I need to ask a few
questions about you.
First, is your age … ?
Frequency Percent
18 to 30 36 6.5%
31 to 45 143 25.9
46 to 64 239 43.2
Over 65 134 24.2
Refused 1 .2
Total 553 100%
32. How many years have you lived in Jackson County?
Frequency Percent
2 or less 15 2.7%
3 to 5 27 4.9
6 to 10 47 8.5
11 to 20 83 15.0
Over 20 377 68.2
Refused 4 .7
Total 553 100%
33. How much education do you have?
Frequency Percent
Less than high school 21 3.8%
High school diploma/GED 147 26.6
Some college 182 32.9
College degree 120 21.7
Advanced degree 80 14.5
Refused 3 .5
Total 553 100%
34. I'm going to read income categories, please stop me when I get to the category that includes your household's total gross income last year, that is income before taxes.
Frequency Percent
Less than $25,000 54 9.8%
$25,000 to $50,000 136 24.6
$50,000 to $75,000 136 24.6
$75,000 to $100,000 76 13.7
Over $100,000 74 13.4
Refused 64 11.6
Don’t know 13 2.4
Total 553 100%
35. Do you own or rent your home?
Frequency Percent
Own 501 90.6%
Rent 35 6.3
FEMA trailer 1 .2
Living with family/friends 10 1.8
Refused 3 .5
Don’t know 3 .5
Total 553 100%
36. Note respondent’s sex:
Frequency Percent
Male 271 49.0
Female 282 50.0
Total 553 100%
37. And finally, what is your zip code (and community)?