220-3686

Support for a Conservation Futures Ballot Measure in

Benton CountyKey Findings from a Countywide Voter Survey

Conducted November 21-25, 2013

2

Survey Methodology

Telephone interviews with 400 randomly-selected Benton County registered voters likely to cast a ballot in the November 2014 election

Respondents were reached via both landline and cellular telephones

The full sample margin of error is ±4.9% at the 95% confidence interval

The margin of error for population subgroups will be higher

Some figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding

3

Context for a Potential Ballot

Measure

4

2a & b. I am going to read you a list of some people and organizations that are active in public life. Please tell me whether you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of that person or organization. If you have never heard of the person or group I mention, or if do not have enough information to have an opinion, you can tell me that too. Split Sample

Most have a favorable opinion of the Parks Department and the Board of

Commissioners.

The Benton County Parks Department

The Benton County Board of Commisioners

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

21%

15%

39%

39%

10%

6%

29%

30%10%

Very Fav. Smwt. Fav. Smwt./Very Unfav.Never Heard of No Opin./DK/NA

60%

53%

5

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

29%

18%

16%

13%

12%

29%

26%

20%

17%

21%

27%

35%

31%

35%

35%

11%

12%

16%

26%

20%

5%

13%

5%

9%

Ext. Ser. Very Ser. Smwt. Ser.

Not Too Ser. Not At All Ser. DK/NA

7. I’m going to read you a list of issues, and I’d like you to tell me how serious a problem you think each one is in your area. Please tell me if you think it is an extremely serious problem, a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, a not too serious problem, or not at all a serious problem. ^Not Part of Split Sample

Government waste, job cuts at Hanford, and public education are top concerns.

Ext./Very Ser.

58%

44%

36%

30%

32%

Government waste and mismanagement

Job cuts at Hanford Nuclear Reservation

The quality of public education

^The amount of taxes people pay to local government

Toxic pollution of rivers, lakes and creeks

6

Support for a Ballot Measure to Fund

Conservation

7

BENTON COUNTY CONSERVATION FUTURES TAX FOR PARKS, TRAILS, RIVERS, NATURAL AREAS AND OPEN SPACE.  This proposition would authorize the Benton County Board of Commissioners to create the Conservation Futures Fund exclusively for the purpose of acquiring park land and open space, preserving and maintaining agricultural land, conserving wildlife habitat, and increasing recreation and educational opportunities and to levy an additional regular property tax of six-and-one-quarter cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation for ten years, (Half Sample: “or $11 per year for the average household,”) subject to published, annual independent financial audits.

Simulated Ballot Language Tested

83. If the vote on this proposition were held today, would you vote to approve or reject it?

A majority of voters initially supports the proposal, especially when the cost impact is

clear.

Series1

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

22%

31%

5%

0%

11%

25%

6%

TotalYes59%

TotalNo

36%

Definitely approve

Probably approve

Undecided, lean approve

Undecided, lean reject

Probably reject

Definitely reject

Undecided

$11 per Year

Series1

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

17%

27%

5%

1%

16%

22%

11%

Series1

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

20%

29%

5%

1%

14%

23%

8%

No Cost Information Total

TotalYes50%

TotalNo

39%

TotalYes54%

TotalNo

38%

9

District 1 District 2 District 30%

20%

40%

60% 57%

52%

52%

32% 39

% 43%

10%

9%

6%

Total Approve Total Reject Undecided

(% of Sample) (39%)

Initial Vote by County Commission District

(31%)(30%)

3 TOTAL. If the vote on this proposition were held today, would you vote to approve or reject it?

A majority of voters in each County Commission District supports the

measure.

10

Kennewick Richland Other Cities Unincorporated0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

53% 58

%

54%

49%

42%

29%

44%

39%

5%

13%

2%

12%

Total Approve Total Reject Undecided

(% of Sample) (37%)

Initial Vote by City

(19%)(13%)

3 TOTAL. If the vote on this proposition were held today, would you vote to approve or reject it?

A plurality supports the measure in eachmajor city and the unincorporated areas.

(31%)

11

Preserve open spaces/Land

Parks and recreation/Maintaining is important

General support

Good for economy/Community

Protect wildlife

Funding is needed

Need more information

Other

Refused

0% 20% 40% 60%

42%

32%

21%

12%

7%

7%

2%

3%

1%

Q4a.

In a few words of your own, can you please tell me why you APPROVE this proposal?

Most supporters say they want to protect open space and maintain public access to

parks and outdoor recreation.

(Open Ended; Responses Grouped)

12Q4b. (Open-ended)

In a few words of your own, can you please tell me why you REJECT this proposal?

A majority of those who reject the proposition

do so because they oppose new taxes.

No new taxes

It’s not necessary/We don’t need to add more space

More important things to spend our money on

General oppose

Don’t know

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

55%

14%

10%

6%

5%

5%

4%

4%

8%

2%

1%

(Open Ended; Responses Grouped)

13

A Benton County sales tax increase to fund the operations and improvements for the Criminal Justice Center

A Tri-Cities Public Facilities District funded by a sales tax increase to create a Regional Performing Arts Center

A Tri-Cities Regional District ballot measure to raise the local sales tax to fund a regional aquatic center and water park

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

17%

20%

17%

39%

27%

19%

16%

20%

18%

20%

28%

43%

4%

Strg. Supp. Smwt. Supp. Smwt. Opp. Strg. Opp. Und.

Q6.

Total Supp.

Total Opp.

56% 36%

47% 48%

35% 61%

Support for the Conservation Futures Fund is on par with a potential County sales tax

increase for the Criminal Justice Center.In addition to the open space proposition we have been discussing, there may be

several other local propositions that appear on ballot in an upcoming election. I am going to read you short descriptions of a couple of these possible propositions, and

for each one please tell me if you would support or oppose it.

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$8 per year

$11 per year

$15 per year

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

36%

28%

20%

29%

30%

27%

6%

9%

12%

18%

22%

27%

6%

6%

6%

Def. App. Prob. App. Und., Lean App. Und., Lean Reject Prob. Reject Def. Reject Und.

Q5.

Total Approve

67%

61%

52%

More than three in five voters would back the measure at its projected cost of $11 per

year. Suppose this proposition to protect open space and agricultural land, conserve wildlife habitat and increase recreation and educational opportunities would cost the average Benton County

homeowner ________. If that were the case, would you vote to approve or reject the proposition?

15

Making Benton County eligible for state and federal matching grant funds

Requiring a committee of Benton County citizens review all expenditures

^Funding only voluntary purchases of land from willing sellers at fair market value

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

40%

25%

23%

28%

36%

36%

9%

5%

9%

15%

19%

19%

6%

5%

8%

9%

Much More Lkly. Swmt. More Lkly. Smwt. Less Lkly Much Less Lkly. No Diff. DK/NA

Q8a/b/d. ^Not Part of Split Sample.

Total More Lkly.

Total Less Lkly.

68% 13%

61% 12%

59% 13%

Two-thirds would be more inclined to support the proposition knowing it would make Benton County eligible for matching

grants.I am going to read a list of provisions that could be included in this proposition. Please tell me whether you would be more likely or less likely to support the

proposition if that feature were included.

16

Much more likely

Somewhat more likely

Somewhat less likely

Much less likely

No Difference

Don't know/NA

0% 15% 30% 45% 60%

27%

30%

9%

8%

24%

3%

Total More Likely57%

Total Less Likely16%

Most voters say that including a 10-year time limit would make them more

likely to support the measure.

8 c/e. I am going to read a list of provisions that could be included in this proposition. Please tell me whether you would be more likely or less likely to support the proposition if that feature were included. Split Sample

Impact of Including a 10-Year Sunset Provision

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Protecting land around rivers, creeks and lakes

Protecting wildlife habitat

Creating areas for children to enjoy nature and outdoor recreational activities

Preserving farmland or agricultural land

Preserving shorelines and natural vegetation along the Columbia, Yakima and Snake Rivers

Preserving natural areas

Maintaining, repairing and improving parks, athletic fields, equipment and facilities

-20% 0% 20% 40% 60%

58%

56%

55%

55%

54%

49%

47%

9c/h/i/n/p/q/v. I am going to read you a list of specific projects that might be funded through a ballot proposition to maintain and improve county parks, expand local trail systems, protect rivers and preserve open space in Benton County. Please tell me how important it is to you that that project be funded: extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not important. Split Sample

The top priorities for conservation funding include habitat, farmland, and land around

local rivers, lakes and streams.(Extremely/Very Important)

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Total Favor59%

Total Oppose30%

DK/NA11%

If this proposition is approved, the Benton County Board of Commissioners could create a larger pool of funding upfront by using annual revenues from the Conservation Futures Fund to sell

bonds. This would allow the County to take advantage of significant land acquisition opportunities that may arise over the next couple of years in order to preserve open space and

natural areas. Do you favor or oppose the Board of Commissioners taking this action?

12. Do you favor or oppose the Board of Commissioner taking this action?

Nearly three in five voters favor using funds raised to sell bonds to speed up open space

acquisition.

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The Impact of Messaging

20

Series1

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

43%

39%

38%

38%

41%

42%

Very Conv. Smwt. Conv.

The most effective “pro” messages integrate the themes of maintaining Benton County’s

unique natural areas and outdoor recreational opportunities.

10c/d/h. Here are some statements from people who support this ballot proposition. Please tell me whether you find it to be a very convincing, somewhat convincing, or not too convincing reason to vote yes on this proposition. If you do not believe the statement you can tell me that too. Split Sample

(PRIDE) For years, local volunteers have taken great pride in building and maintaining local trails and open space. And today, use of natural

areas is rapidly increasing – in four years visits to Badger Mountain trails went from 30,000 to 180,000. This proposition will protect and expand

public access to quality outdoor recreation.

(FUTURE) Protecting open space, natural areas and wildlife habitats will protect our area’s natural beauty and quality of life for future generations,

so our children and grandchildren can enjoy it the same way we do.

(RECREATION) As development continues, we need to protect open space and make sure residents have access to outdoor activities that

promote a high quality of life, fitness and better health.

81%

80%

81%

21

This property tax increase, being pushed by environmentalists, would stop new business investment in Benton County, block job creation and prevent economic growth. With tens of thousands of acres of national parks in the mid-Columbia region there is no need for this proposition, especially when families are struggling to make ends meet and with major job cuts at Hanford. Tax dollars should be used for higher priorities, like public safety, education, and repairing roads.

Opposition Message Tested

223/11/13. If the vote on this proposition were held today, would you vote to approve or reject it?

Initia

l

Vot

e After S

uppo

rt

Mes

sage

s

After O

ppos

e

Mes

sage

s

In

itial

Vote Afte

r Sup

port

Mes

sage

s

After O

ppos

e

Mes

sage

s

In

itial

Vote

Afte

r Sup

port

Mes

sage

s

After O

ppos

e

Mes

sage

s

0%

20%

40%

60%

59%64%

58%

50%

58%

52% 54%

61%

55%

36%34%

37%39% 38%

44%

38%36%

41%

6%2%

5%

11%

4% 4%8%

3% 4%

Total Support

Total Oppose

Undecided

$11 per Year No Cost Information Total

Even after an opposition message, most voters remain supportive.

23

Conclusions

24

Conclusions Unsurprisingly, the survey shows that efforts to pass a conservation

futures tax in Benton County face a conservative electorate with some innate skepticism about new taxes.

At the same time, the survey shows that a number of factors provide a favorable context for a conservation futures measure: High levels of park and trail usage among local voters Positive regard for public and private organizations that advocate for

conservation A fiscal impact that most voters clearly find manageable A few particular projects that inspire more widespread voter enthusiasm

The net effect of these factors is a measure that achieves initial majority support (54%).

These numbers can be improved – the survey models a strong “yes” campaign and only minimal opposition, and in that context support rises to three in five voters polled (61%).

For more information, contact:

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