Citizens survey helps provide direction for regional district

The Regional District Okanagan – Similkameen’s 2014 Citizen Survey results were revealed in November.

The survey takes  place every two years, and provides the regional district with feedback  on the organization’s performance from taxpayers.

The regional district board uses the information to help guide budget and resource allocations.

Examples of this year’s data indicated an 80 per cent overall satisfaction rating for quality of life amongst regional district ratepayers. Only 62 per cent thought the regional district was doing a satisfactory job overall, however.

It was also interesting to note that more people supported a tax increase for increased services (16 per cent) than would opt for a reduction in taxes and subsequent reduced services (eight per cent).

The 400 people solicited in the telephone survey represents two per cent of each electoral area. Christie Malden, Manager of Legislative Services for the regional district, said the current survey information may be analyzed in time to have an impact on the 2015 budget.

This year’s survey is the third one the regional district has conducted, and the first time for the online survey.

“We expect to continue with it as well,” Malden said in an email, “although the results are not scientific, as it may reach a different demographic than our phone survey."

The complete report on the 2014 citizen survey is available for download from the regional district website at: www.rdos.bc.ca

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.