HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO-04-07
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Report #3
RE,PORT
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
Meeting:
COUNCIL
C-#-IY'7-07
Date: Monday, March 19, 2007
Report #: CAO-04-07
File:
By-law #:
Subject:
FUNDING REQUEST FOR LAKERIDGE BOWMANVILLE HOSPITAL
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is respectfully recommended to Council the following:
1. THAT Report CAO-04-07 be received for information.
1.
REPORT
At the Special General Purpose and Administration Committee meeting held on
March 2, 2007, the Committee directed the Chief Administrative Officer to seek
public opinion with respect to the request made by the Bowmanville Hospital
Foundation for a four (4) year - Two Million Dollar ($2,000,000.) funding support
for the redevelopment of Lakeridge Health Bowmanville Hospital's emergency
centre, same day surgery, endoscopy, mammography and intensive care unit.
2. As a result of the Committee's direction, the Chief Administrative Officer retained
the service of Collis Research to conduct a telephone poll. The results of the poll
is contained in the attached report.
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Submitted by: --:l C
Franklin Wu
Chief Administrative Officer
CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L 1 C 3A6 T (905)623-3379 F (905)623-5717
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Municipality of Clarington Telephone Survey:
Do Clarington property owners agree with a tax
increase to help fund improvements to
Bowmanville Memorial Hospital?
March 2007
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11 Burk Court
Bowmanville, Ontario, L 1 C 3V7
Telephone: (905) 697-2521
Fax: (905) 697-2425
Web Page: www.collis-reed.com
E-mail: rcollis@collis-reed.com
Telephone Survey: A tax increase for improvements to Bowmanville Memorial Hospital
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1.0 Background
The Municipality of Clarington commissioned Collis & Reed Research to
independently survey the opinions of Clarington residents regarding whether they
are in favour a $16 property tax increase over the next four years to help fund
improvements to Lakeridge Health's Bowmanville Memorial Hospital. Collis &
Reed's mandate was to develop a single question telephone survey, administer
the survey, analyze the survey data and prepare a written report of the findings.
2.0 Survey Objectives and Content
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The objective of the survey was to obtain a general indication of opinions of
Clarington residents regarding a proposed municipal property tax increase, which
would contribute to the Bowmanville Memorial Hospital Foundation's proposal for
improvements to the hospital. The telephone survey script included a brief
description of the survey intent, an inquiry to speak with the property owner,
followed by intent to continue. If the respondent was in fact a property owner in
Clarington and granted consent to proceed with the survey, a single question
was posed to ascertain if the respondent was in favor of or opposed to the
proposed municipal tax increase. A copy of the telephone script is found in
Appendix I. In addition to recording the response to the question, telephone
interviewers also noted the age demographic of each respondent. If the
respondent without solicitation commented on the issue, that comment was also
recorded.
3.0 Survey Implementation & Response Rate
Telephone numbers were drawn at random from Clarington telephone listings
(500 random telephone numbers were compiled per Ward). Lists of telephone
numbers and the Ward number were provided to four trained telephone
interviewers. Note: these interviewers did not know the names of the residents
they were calling nor their exact address. Interviewers accessed the script and
response form via computer. The telephone survey script is presented in
Appendix I.
Residents on the telephone list were contacted by telephone between 11 AM and
8:30 PM from Thursday March 8th 2007 to Monday March 1 ih 2007 (no
telephone calls were made on the weekend). Three-quarters of the telephone
interviews were conducted on March 8th and 9th in order to avoid availability
biases that might be associated with school March Break which took place during
the week of March 12th.
If the respondent did not answer the telephone, the interviewer recorded this and
tried again during a later calling period. Each interviewer made up to three
attempts to reach each number on their list.
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COllis & Reed Research
w.N\N. collis-reed. com
905-697-2521
rcollis@collis-reed.com
Telephone Survey: A tax increase for improvements to Bowmanville Memorial Hospital
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A total of 511 potential respondents spoke with telephone interviewers; of these
400 met the Clarington property owner criteria and agreed to participate in the
survey. Of the 111 people who did not participate in the survey, 43 were not
property owners, while 68 refused to participate in the survey (a response rate of
85%).
4.0 Survey Results
As a property owner, are you willing to pay $16.00 more a year over the next four
years to improve emergency room and other services at Bowmanville Hospital
(also known as Lakeridge Health in Bowmanville)?
YES
NO
Percent
74%
26%
These percentages are accurate within 4.5%, nineteen out of twenty times.
There are no significant differences between Wards or age categories.
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Respondents were not asked to elaborate on their opinion. However, whenever
a respondent did make a comment, the telephone interviewer did record the gist
of their comment.
In total, 48 respondents made unsolicited comments. They were equally split
between people who agreed and disagreed with the increase.
Those who disagreed with the increase felt that taxes were already were too
high, they could not afford a further tax increase, they did not use Bowmanville
Memorial Hospital or they thought that funding for this type of improvement
should come from the provincial government.
Those who agreed with the increase typically stated that this is a better use of tax
payer's money than many initiatives, but they would like to see assurances that
the money will actually go to the hospital and that after four years a $16.00
decrease in property taxes will actually take place.
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Collis & Reed Research
w.N\N.collis-reed.com
905-697 -2521
rcollis@collis-reed.com
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Telephone Survey: A tax increase for improvements to Bowmanville Memorial Hospital
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Appendix I
Telephone Survey Script
I'm calling on behalf of the Municipality to seek the opinion of property owners
regarding an issue concerning taxes and health care.
Are you a property owner and as such pay municipal property taxes?
If yes, May I speak with the person responsible for paying these taxes.
If no, thank them for their time.
Hi, I'm , the Municipality of Clarington has commissioned Collis & Reed
Research to conduct a one question survey about property taxes and healthcare
in Clarington. This question requires a yes or no answer. It will take less than a
minute of your time and your response will be kept confidential.
May I ask you this question?
If no, thank them for their time.
As a property owner, are you willing to pay $16.00 more a year over the next four
years to improve emergency room and other services at Bowmanville Hospital
(also known as Lakeridge Health in Bowmanville)?
YES or NO
Thanks for your response but before I let you go, for demographic purposes,
which age category do you fall under?
A under 30
B 31-50
C 51-64
D 65 or older
Thank you very much for your time and have a great day.
Collis & Reed Research
www.collis-reed.com
905-697 -2521
rcoll is@collis-reed .com