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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0620.012 2002-2004 Page 1 of 1 .t_ jarakaki@interpac.net ~OC4 ~1~~11~ From: "Marjorie Ervvay" <mervvayCc~hawaii.rr.com> To: <jarakaki@interpac.net>; <achung~interpac.net>; "Ttnlengi' <district2(c~ibterpac.net>; "Jacobson" <jacobsCrDhgea.org>; "Reynolds" <JceCC(c~interpa~~;~"Safarik" ggS6tf`altk@interpac.net>; "Tyler" <ctyler@interpac.net>; <FHOLSCHUH@co.f'iawan.hi.us>; <FHOLSCHUH(a~interpac.net>; "L.Elarinoff' <hoelike@sasami.interpac.net>; <hoelike~aol.com> Cc: <cohmayor@interpac.net>; <CYUEN@co.hawaii.hi.us>; <cohdmd@interpac.net> Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 4:49 PM Attach: Hawaii_Counry_Poll_Summary_Memo.doc Subject: Bill 270 -correction of statement Aloha Finance Committee Members! It has been pointed out to me that West Hawaii Today's azticle about Bill 270, is incorrect. Maui keeps only 1 % of the real property tax revenue for their land protection fund. And Kauai, only .5%. However, as Josh Stanbro of the Trust for Public Lands noted, the Hawaii Island people, in a survey, attached, show that Hawaii County voters are overwhelmingly supportive of such an amendment, with fully seven out often voters polled saying that they would vote in favor. Please note this correction -check out the attachment, and support this Bill all the way. Sincerely, Mazjorie Erway PO Box 2807 Kailua-Kona, HI 96745 324-4624 Comm. No. ~ Ref. To: rex~fed ~%[i Ref. l7ate,~AY 1 R 7~Od 5/14/04 FAIRBANK, MASLIN, MAULLIN & ASSOCIATES QMARK RESEARCH & POLLING 1999 Harrison St., Suite 1290 1001 Bishop St. Oakland, CA 94612 Pacific Tower -19`" Floor (s10) 4s1-9521 (Tel.) Honolulu, HI 96813 (s10) 4s1-0384 (Fax) (808) s24-s194 (Tel.) (sob) s24-s4s~ (Fax) TO: Teresa McHugh and Josh Stanbro The Trust for Public Land FROM: Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates QMazk Reseazch & Polling RE: Highlights of Hawaii County Voter Survey DATE: Apri130, 2004 Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates (FMM&A) and QMazk Research & Polling (QRP) recently completed a survey of Hawaii County voters on behalf of the Trust for Public Land (TPL) to assess support for a potential amendment to the County Charter to preserve open space, coastlines, natural lands, cultural areas, and agricultural lands. ~ The results show that Hawai i County voters are overwhelmingly supportive of such an amendment, with fully seven out of ten voters polled saying that they would vote in favor. Support for the amendment cuts across demographic groups, geographic regions and political parties within the Hawaii County electorate, and remains strong even once voters understand that such an amendment would set aside $2.3 million in property tax revenue each year for conservation projects. The balance of this memo explores these and other findings in more detail. Survey respondents presented with the following draft ballot language for a charter amendment setting aside two percent of the County's property tax revenues to purchase land for conservation purposes: "Should a minimum of two percent of annual real property tax revenue be dedicated to a special Land Conservation Fund to be used for purchasing lands or other property entitlements to preserve Open Space, Coastlines, Natural Lands, Cultural Areas, and Agricultural Lands, and should the unspent revenues in this special,fund remain in the fund?" 'Methodology: From March 30 -April 7, 2004, Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates (FMM&A) and QMazk Reseazch & Polling (QRP) conducted a poll of 405 Hawaii County voters likely to vote in the November 2004 general election. The mazgin of sampling error for the full sample is 4.9%; margins of error for subgroups within the sample will be higher. Results of Hawaii County Voter Survey -April 2004 Page 2 Voters overwhelmingly support the proposal; as illustrated below in Figure 1, 70 percent of Hawai i County voters would vote for a charter amendment creating a community lands and open space preservation fund. In contrast, opposition to the amendment is minimal; only two Hawaii County voters in five oppose the proposed amendment. FIGURE 1: Initial Support for the Proposed Charter Amendment 37%P Tote Definitely yes Ys~ uql~ il~'il p i~"rl~''~~ ~~ri~~~~~'~ ~ ~ ~ ~~I,, 33% 70X Probablyllean yes Probablyllean no , 11% ~ !Total i NIO: Definitely no ~0 ' Undecided o°r° 10% so% 30°~ 40°~ so~° Support for the charter amendment remains strong and actually increases after voters have received additional information about it. As shown in Figure 2, even after voters are informed that the amendment would set aside $2.3 million in property tax revenue annually, more than 70 percent of those polled say that they would vote for the amendment. Nearly half of those polled (45 percent) say they would "definitely" vote "yes." FIGURE 2: Support for the Amendment Given That It Would Set Aside $2.3 Million Annually 45°~ Total Definitely yes ~ ~ Ysx Probablyllean yes ~ ~ ! 27% 72'/e Probablyllean no Total J No: Definitely no 7%` 187~i Undecided ~ ~~I II. 12°~ 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% Results ojHawai'i County Voter Survey -April 2004 Page 3 In order to test voters' reactions to some of the public debate they might hear about a charter amendment setting aside two percent of Hawaii County's property tax revenues for conservation, survey respondents were offered a list of arguments in favor of the measure and a list of arguments against it. Arguments in favor of the amendment stressed, for example, that it would preserve the natural beauty of Hawaii for future generations, it would preserve clean air and water in Hawaii County, and it would not increase taxes. Among the arguments against the amendment with which survey respondents were presented were those noting that it would take money from pressing needs like public safety and traffic relief, and arguing that it would inevitably lead to a tax increase. After both sets of arguments were presented, support for the measure increased measurably, as illustrated on the following page in Figure 3. Hearing both sides of the issue led voters to increase their support by fully ten percent, to 80 percent of those polled. FIGURE 3: Support for Charter Amendment, Before and After Pro and Con Arguments Vote Initial After Change Arguments Yes 70% 80% +10% No 20% 14% -6% Undecided 10% 6% -4% Voters were also asked to evaluate the importance of a variety of conservation projects that might be funded by the proposed charter amendment, as shown in Figure 4 below. Respondents were asked to rank each item as either "extremely important," "very important," "somewhat important," or "not important." Majorities of those polled ranked every item on the list as either "extremely" or "very important." Hawai i County voters tend to place the highest priority on land conservation projects that will protect water quality, beaches and coastal areas, prevent erosion, floods, and landslides, Native Hawaiian cultural areas, and native forest areas. Each of these projects was rated as "extremely" or "very important" by more than four out of five voters polled. Results of Hawaii County Voter Survey -April 2004 Page 4 FIGURE 4: Ranking of the Importance of Potential Projects to be Funded by a Conservation Charter Amendment TOTAL Ezt. Very S.W. Not DK/ Project EXT./ Imp. Imp. Imp. Imp. NA VERY Protecting watersheds to improve water quality 93% 52% 41% 6% 2% 1% Protecting lands to preserve drinking water quality 89% 49% 40% 8% 3% 0% Protecting watersheds 88% 45% 43% 8% 3% 0% Providing annual independent audits to ensure that money g6% 51% 35% 10% 3% 1 set aside by the amendment is spent as promised Protecting beaches and coastal azeas 86% 40% 46% 10% 3% 0% Protecting land that will help prevent erosion, floods, and g5% 43% 42% 10% 4% 0% landslides Protecting native forest areas 83% 41% 42% 13% 3% 1% Preserving native Hawaiian historical and cultural areas 82% 47% 35% 14% 3% 0% Protecting coastal waters and reef azeas from runoff 82% 39% 43% 14% 3% 1 Protecting public access to beaches, coastal and mountain gl % 34% 47% 15% 3% I °ro azeas Saving habitats for whales, seals, turtles, birds, and other 78% 42% 36% 17% 4% 0% fish and wildlife Protecting natural lands 77% 36% 41% 17% 5% 1% Preserving land for recreational activities like hunting, 71% 33% 38% 21% 6% 1% fishing, boating, and surfing Protecting agricultural land 70% 23% 47% 23% 6% 1% Protecting coastal and scenic views 68% 28% 40% 24% 6% 0% Protecting open space 68% 26% 42% 23% 8% 2% Purchasing land for new local parks 52% 17% 35% 35% 12% 1% The proposed amendment also enjoyed strong support from every geographical region of the Island. As shown in Figure 5, at least 68% of voters in each azea of the County indicated that they would vote in favor of the measure. FIGURE 5: Initial Support for the Proposed Charter Amendment, by Geographic Area Area Yes No Undecided Hilo/Hamakua 68% 20% 12% Puna/Ka'u 70% 20% 10% Kona/Kohala 72% 21% 7% R_esu[ts ofHawai'i County Voter Survey-Apri12004 Page 5 Also, support for this proposed charter amendment cuts across every major demographic subgroup of the Hawai' i County electorate. The amendment is supported by: • 72% of women and 67% of men; • 68% of Democrats, 61 % of Republicans, and 75% of independents; • 71% of Caucasian voters, 71% of Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian voters, and 62% of Japanese voters; • 75% of those under age 50 and 63% of those over age 50; • 64% of those who have lived in Hawaii County for less than ten years, 78% of those who have lived in the County for 11 to 25 yeazs, and 67% of those who have lived in the County for more than 25 years or were born and raised in Hawaii County. Overall, the survey results make clear that Hawaii County voters aze highly concerned about protecting the County's land and water. Accordingly, Hawai i County voters strongly support a charter amendment to set aside two percent of the County's property tax revenue to purchase land for conservation.