Survey: Hamilton residents OK with taxes to fix streets, blast blight

A large majority of Hamilton residents who recently were surveyed expressed strong support for tax levies to improve their city.

Leading the way was support for a tax that would go toward resurfacing city streets.

It was followed by taxes for removal of blight and enforcement of public health laws; revitalization of the city’s urban core; and creating more parks, recreation amenities and programs. Those were the four categories residents were asked about. All got support from healthy majorities.

City officials had been discussing a street-resurfacing levy for this year’s November ballot, but decided to push that effort back to 2018. A recent survey found only 17 percent of residents have a favorable view of the condition of Hamilton’s streets.

Jacob Stone, public communication specialist for the city, who outlined the survey results recently for Hamilton City Council, said, “77 percent of respondents to the survey said that they would somewhat or strongly support a street-resurfacing levy; 71 for blight and health enforcement; 68 for urban-core revitalization; and 67 percent for parks and programming.”

Here are the results to questions posed as part of the National Citizen Survey:

  • 77 percent supported a street-resurfacing levy. Of those, 39 percent expressed strong support, with 38 percent saying they "somewhat support" such an effort. On the other hand, 11 percent said they "somewhat oppose such a levy, with 12 percent strongly opposed.
  • 71 percent favored a levy for removal of blight and increased public-health enforcement. Of those responding, 32 percent strongly supported; 39 percent somewhat supported; 18 percent somewhat opposed; and 11 percent strongly opposed such a levy.
  • 68 percent favored more taxes for urban-core revitalization. The survey showed 30 percent strongly supported; 38 percent somewhat supported; 19 percent somewhat opposed; and 13 percent strongly opposed such a levy.
  • 67 percent favored a tax levy for more parks, recreational amenities and recreation programs. Some 26 percent strongly opposed the idea; 41 percent somewhat supported it; 19 percent somewhat opposed it; and 13 percent strongly opposed it.

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