Indianapolis/Marion County 2008 Budget Priorities (Citizen Response)

The City-County Council is requesting citizen input on the priorities and importance of programs and services provided by both the City and the County. Local governments in Indiana are facing annual fiscal challenges, and Indianapolis and Marion County have significant budget challenges for 2008 and into the future. Providing first class services at the lowest possible cost is becoming increasingly difficult. The combination of continued state imposed revenue limits, cost increases outside of the control of the city and county, and the reduction of state property tax relief means continued funding for programs and services at current levels may be impossible to sustain.

Your input and opinion regarding the importance and priority of city and county programs and services is of great interest to the City-County Council. The Council intends to utilize the results of this survey as one of the information sources in the adoption of the proposed 2008 Indianapolis/Marion County Budget that is currently being considered by the Council.

If you are not a resident or business owner in Marion County we respectfully request that you abstain from participating in this survey.
Thank You,
Monroe Gray
President, Indianapolis/Marion County City-County Council

Rate the importantance of these Public Safety services to you?

	Unnecessary		Critical
	1	2	3	4	5
Law Enforcement (patrol, investigation, SWAT, warrants, courthouse security, etc.)
Fire Protection and Suppression
Jail and Incarceration
Jail Alternatives (Community Corrections, electronic monitoring, etc.)
MECA and E911 Dispatch
Emergency Management (disaster/emergency planning)
Crime Lab and Forensic Services
Coroner's Office (autopsies)
Animal Care and Control (pet adoption, animal ordinance enforcement, animal shelter, pet owner education)

Rate the importance of these Judicial services to you?

	Unnecessary		Critical
	1	2	3	4	5
Circuit and Superior Courts (court services for all criminal and civil matters)
Prosecuting Attorney (represent State of Indiana in all criminal cases, child support enforcement and victim advocacy)
Public Defender (indigent representation)
Clerk of Court (court case filings, fee collection, court record keeping, marriage licenses, etc)
Probate Court (cases regarding wills, estates, guardianships, trusts and adoptions)
Juvenile Detention Facility

Rate the importance of these Metropolitan Development services to you?

	Unnecessary		Critical
	1	2	3	4	5
Compliance (land use and building code enforcement, inspections, permitting, etc)
Current Planning (zoning management, process land use petitions, etc)
Comprehensive Planning
Economic development (assist with commercial, industrial and retail development of projects)
Mayor's Action Center (24/7 public call center for services)
Neighborhood Liaisons (staff dedicated to meeting citizen requests by linking with city/county service)
Historic Preservation

Rate the importance of these Health and Welfare services to you?

	Unnecessary		Critical
	1	2	3	4	5
Marion County Health Department
Wishard Hospital
Child Welfare and Protection Services
Marion County Guardian Home
Low Income Housing (authority owned)
Federal rent subsidies - low income families
Federal rent subsidies - low income elderly

Rate the importance of these County Offices services to you?

	Unnecessary		Critical
	1	2	3	4	5
County Auditor (distribution of revenue to local government units, maintaining applications for property tax deductions, etc)
County Treasurer (collect taxes)
County Assessor (calculating inheritance tax, processing property tax exemptions, processing personal/property tax appeals)
County Recorder (records, maintains and provides access to public records)
County Surveyor (maintains the Legal Survey Record Book)
Township Assessor (assessing land value, maintain property ownership records, etc)
County Election Board (conduct elections)
Voter Registration (maintain voter records)

Rate the importance of these Public Works services to you?

	Unnecessary		Critical
	1	2	3	4	5
Highways and Streets (roads, bridges, potholes, mowing, snow plowing, etc)
Trash Collection and Disposal
Sanitary Sewers (elimination of raw sewage, wastewater treatment, etc)
Stormwater Management (flood control, water quality, etc)
Environmental Services (environmental regulation compliance, air/water monitoring, etc)
Recycling
Traffic Control (traffic signs and lights)
Bus System (IndyGo)
Airport Authority
Regional Transportation Planning (light rail, trollies, roads, etc)

Rate the importance of these Leisure and Education services to you?

	Unnecessary		Critical
	1	2	3	4	5
Parks (mowing, safety, street trees, greenways, etc)
Recreation Opportunity (swimming, hiking, golf, environmental education, sports, etc)
Indianapolis/Marion County Library
Marion County Fair
Convention Center
Charter Schools
Public Support for Arts
Public Support for Sport Venues

How many years have you lived in Indianapolis/Marion County?
Residency Status (choose all that apply)

Homeowner

Renter

Business owner

In which township do you live or own a business?

http://www.indygov.org

Center	Lawrence	Warren
Decatur	Perry	Washington
Franklin	Pike	Wayne