Pegeen Hanrahan - Mayors Innovation Project

Passing Ballot Measures for
Infrastructure and Land
Conservation Projects
Mayors’ Innovation Project
Mayors
Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan, P.E.
Gainesville,, Florida
Presentation Overview
•
•
•
•
•
•
Acknowledgements to the Trust for Public Land
Local Government Funding Options
Ballot Measure Basics and Common Errors
Polling
Ballot Measure Design
Sales Tax Case Study
Local Government Funding
Options for Capital Projects
Determined
i d by
b State
S
and
d Locall Laws, b
but
can include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ad Valorem (Property) Taxes
Gas Taxes
Fees for Service
Impact Fees
Utilit R
Utility
Revenues
Sales Taxes
Grants (Local,
(Local State
State, Federal
Federal, Private)
Earmarks
Most of These Funding Sources
C Be Bonded
Can
d d
• A bond is simply a long-term debt
obligation
• Repayment is typically through one of
the funding sources mentioned (ad
valorem, sales tax, utility revenues, etc.)
• Cities and counties sometimes are
compelled
ll d to ask
k ffor voter approvall ffor
new bond obligations, and often prefer
t seek
to
k it even if nott required
q i d tto d
do so
Ballot Measures are Often Used for
More “Popular”
“
l ” Projects
j
• Parks and Land Conservation
(See TPL’s
TPL s LandVote Database)
• Schools
• Libraries
Lib i
• Roads and Public Transportation
• Sometimes Listed Alone, Sometimes
g
Together
Ya Win Some,
Some Ya Lose Some
Gainesville Winners:
Libraries, Land
C
Conservation,
i
Courthouse
Ya Win Some,
Some Ya Lose Some
Gainesville Losers:
Active Parks and
R d
Roads
Common Errors in Ballot Measures
• Putting the bureaucrats and lawyers in
charge of the ballot language
g an elected official (who is not
• Making
that popular) the spokesperson
• Trying to fund the wrong projects or too
many disparate
di
t projects
j t
• Trying to use the wrong funding source
• Getting the timing wrong
• Assuming we know more than we do
and failing to do a good poll
• Forgetting that this is a campaign!
The Trust for Public Land
C
Conservation
i Finance
i
Conservation
Transactions
Conservation
Finance
Conservation
Vision
Park Design &
Development
Conservation
Research
& Education
TPL Conservation Finance: 84% of
Measures Passed
Year
# of TPL/TCC
Measures
Wins
Conservation Funds
Approved
1996
27
26
$0.6 billion
1997
13
11
$0.2 billion
1998
34
30
$4.1 billion
1999
14
12
$0.9 billion
2000
71
55
$4 2 billion
$4.2
2001
41
31
$0.7 billion
2002
61
47
$4.4 billion
2003
22
21
$0.8 billion
2004
52
45
$2.5 billion
2005
46
41
$0 8 billion
$0.8
2006
49
41
Total
430
360
$4.9 billion
$24.2 billion
TPL s Critical Steps for a
TPL’s
Successful Ballot Measure
SStep 1
Step 2
S 3
Step
Step 4
S 5
Step
Feasibility
F
ibili Research
R
h
Public Opinion Survey
P
Program
Recommendations
R
d i
Ballot Language
C
Campaign
i
Key Variables in Measure
Design
i
Funding Source
Amount (and duration)
Purposes/Uses of Funds
Timing (choice of election date)
Management/Accountability
Step 1 – Feasibility Research
Conservation
i priorities
i ii
Finance options
Fiscal capacity
Political profile
Election history
Election requirements
Ballot language requirements
Opposition analysis
Best practices
Step 2 – Public Opinion Survey
Issue Identification
Pollster Selection
Questionnaire Design
Sample Design
Analysis and Presentation
Step 3 – Program
Recommendations
d i
Funding Source
Amount (and duration)
Purposes/Uses of Funds
Management/Accountability
Timing (choice of election date)
Step 4 – Ballot Language
Legal Constraints
Best Practices
Integrate Survey Findings
Negotiate with public attorney and
bond counsel
Bad Ballot Language
0.5
0
5 PERCENT (0.5%)
(0 5%) LOCAL GOVERNMENT
SALES SURTAX FOR PARKS AND
RECREATION FACILITIES
SHALL A 0.5 PERCENT (0.5%) SALES SURTAX BE
LEVIED FOR SEVEN (7) YEARS STARTING ON
JANUARY 1, 2005, AND ENDING ON DECEMBER
31, 2011, TO CONSTRUCT, RECONSTRUCT,
OPERATE, AND MAINTAIN PARKS AND
RECREATION FACILITIES ON PROPERTY
OWNED OR ACQUIRED BY ALACHUA COUNTY,
THE CITIES IN ALACHUA COUNTY
COUNTY, AND THE
SCHOOL BOARD OF ALACHUA COUNTY AND TO
PAY DEBT SERVICE ON BONDS ISSUED FOR
SUCH PURPOSES.
FOR the 0.5 cent sales tax.
AGAINST the 0.5 cent sales tax
Step 5 – Campaign
Campaign
C
i committee
itt
Fund raising
Endorsements
Communications
• Earned media
• Literature
• Direct mail
• Paid
P id media
di
Get out the vote
Case Study from Martin County
Step 1 – Feasibility Research
Estimated Revenue and Cost of Infrastructure Sales Tax
Sales
Tax
0.50%
1.00%
Annual
Revenue
$14,164,874
$28,329,748
Household Spending on
Taxable Goods*
$10,759
$10,759
Annual Cost/
Household
$53.80
$107.59
Sales
Tax
0.50%
1.00%
Annual
Revenue
$14,164,874
$28,329,748
Total Revenue Attributed
to Resident Spending**
$3,369,342
$6,738,684
% of Revenue
Generated by Residents
24%
24%
*Assumes 25% of household income is spent on taxable items.
Based on 2003 median household income of $43,036 (USDA, Economic Rsch Service).
**Average household spending multiplied by # of households in the county (est.
(est 62,633).
62 633)
Step 1 – Feasibility Research
Martin County Bond Financing Costs
Assumes 15-year bond at 5.0% interest rate; Total Assessed Valuation (AV)= $17.73 billion
Bond Issue
$10,000,000
$20,000,000
$30,000,000
$50,000,000
$70 000 000
$70,000,000
Annual
Debt Svce
$963,423
$1,926,846
$2,890,269
$4,817,114
$6 743 960
$6,743,960
Prop Tax
Increase
0.0543
0.1087
0.1630
0.2717
0 3298
0.3298
*Based on median home value of $235,000, less $25,000 homestead exemption.
Cost/ Year/
Avg Home*
$11.41
$22.82
$34.23
$57.06
$83 44
$83.44
S
Step
2 – Public
P bli O
Opinion
i i
Survey
METHODOLOGY
The Trust for Public land commissioned a survey
among 300 likely voters in Martin County, Florida. The
margin of error for such a sample is + 5.66%.
Interviews were collected July 26-27, 2006. The
survey was conducted by Public Opinion Strategies.
Step 2 – Public Opinion
Survey
Sales Tax Ballot
$50 Million Ballot
$
$70 Million Ballot
$
60%
55%
38%
Def Yes
51%
37%
35%
30%
28%
Def No
25%
Def Yes
Total Yes
22%
Def No
23%
Def Yes
24%
Def No
Total No
Now there are various proposals which are being considered by the county and could be on the ballot in
November – Please listen carefully as I read you these proposals as this language is somewhat technical.
If the election were being held today, would you vote "yes" or "no" on the following question...The one
entitled Natural Areas and Park Protection is . . .
These ballots are clearly being viewed in the context
of the g
growth and development
p
which is taking
g
place in the county. Growth is considered
the top issue today.
Most Important Issue Facing Martin County
38%
Limiting Growth
13%
Holding Down Taxes
12%
Preserving Natural Areas, Beaches and Parks
Fighting Crime and Drugs
8%
Controlling Government Spending
8%
Improving Local Schools
8%
Reducing Traffic Congestion
4%
Increasing Jobs
4%
None of These/Other
3%
What would you say is the single MOST important issue facing Martin County?
Step 2 – Public Opinion
Survey
Ranked By % Much More Likely
Protecting the water quality of rivers, lakes
and streams
89%
81%
71%
Protecting water quality
Preserving land to protect drinking water
sources
67%
Protecting wildlife habitat
Protecting natural areas
Much More Likely
83%
60%
80%
59%
81%
57%
Protecting beaches
86%
80%
Somewhat More Likely
Now, let me read you some specific aspects of this proposed measure which are being
considered, and for each aspect of the proposal, please tell me if that would make you
more likely or less likely to vote Yes in favor of this proposal.
Step 2 – Public Opinion
Survey
Ranked By % Much More Likely
Require an annual independent audit,
published in the newspaper.
52%
Automatically expire the tax in five years
74%
74%
47%
Automatically expire the tax in three years
44%
Ensure ZERO money is spent on
administrative costs
66%
42%
Base funding priorities on the
recommendations of a citizens committee
26%
Base funding priorities on the community
Parks Master Plan which was developed over
the past two years with community input
26%
Much More Likely
y
65%
63%
54%
Somewhat More Likely
y
Now, let me read you some additional specific aspects of this proposed measure which
are being considered, and for each aspect of the proposal, please tell me if that would
make you more likely or less likely to vote Yes in favor of this proposal.
Step 3 – Program
R
Recommendations
d i
Funding
g mechanism: ½ cent sales tax
Duration: no more than five years
Purposes:
• purchase land to protect the water quality of rivers
rivers, lakes
lakes,
and streams and drinking water sources, preserve natural
areas, wildlife habitat, and beaches
• and
d create and
d iimprove parks,
k recreational
i
l trails
il ffor
walking, hiking, and biking, and recreational opportunities
y measures:
Accountability
• citizen oversight committee
• limit spending on administrative costs to zero
• an annual independent audit
Timing: November 7, 2006 general election
Step 4 – GOOD Ballot Language
“CLEAN WATER, WILDLIFE HABITAT, BEACHES AND PARKS
O
ONE-HALF
A
PERCENT
C
(½%) SA
SALES
S TAX”
A ”
TO PURCHASE CONSERVATION LANDS TO PROTECT THE INDIAN
RIVER LAGOON
LAGOON, ST.
ST LUCIE RIVER
RIVER, AND DRINKING WATER
SOURCES, TO PRESERVE NATURAL AREAS, WILDLIFE
HABITAT AND BEACHES; TO CREATE AND IMPROVE PARKS,
OTHER RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND TRAILS FOR
WALKING HIKING AND BIKING; AND FOR CITY
WALKING,
CITY-PRIORITIZED
PRIORITIZED
CONSERVATION, RECREATION OR INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECTS; SUBJECT TO CITIZEN OVERSIGHT, ZERO
SPENDING ON ADMINISTRATION AND ANNUAL
INDEPENDENT AUDIT
AUDIT, SHALL MARTIN COUNTY LEVY A ½
CENT SALES TAX FOR 5 YEARS?
_____
"FOR THE ONE-HALF PERCENT SALES TAX“
_____
“AGAINST THE ONE-HALF PERCENT SALES TAX"
Step 5 - Campaign
Four Pieces of Targeted Direct Mail to
Households
Campaign Committee of Soccer Moms –
Speaking Engagements
L
Letters
to the
h Editor
Edi
Newspaper Editorial Endorsements
Endorsements of Cities, Chambers, Groups
Results: 55% in Favor of of Sales Tax
Another Issue:
Effective Use of
Targeted Direct
Mail Can Be
C
Constrained
t i d iin a
Government-Run
Campaign
Remember
The
Timing!
Hurricanes
F
Frances
&
Jeanne in
2004
200
Emerging Opportunities for Ballot
Measures
Th k You!
Thank
Y !
Questions and Comments?
Pegeen Hanrahan, P.E.
Mayor@cityofgainesville org
Mayor@cityofgainesville.org
352-665-5939 mobile