City asking voters to participate in an important survey

?

where's the survey?

prevention of "smash and grab" crimes and flash mob robberies

This is the first I've heard about this survey...don't bother texting me, I retired my cell phone when I retired. Call me on my telephone:

Too many board and care homes and sober homes.

Thank you for your comments on the News page and interest in participating in this important survey. To address the "where's the survey" question, there is no general link to participate as True North Research and Dynata will be conducting their survey by contacting folks individually, and may do so via call, text or email.

Thank you for your comment on the News page and interest in participating in this important survey. As to the comment regarding sober living homes, the State is currently conducting a Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) audit and would appreciate hearing from you. Residents are encouraged to share their experiences and opinions regarding sober living homes as part of this legislative audit and more details and the link to the online form are available through the following link:

https://cityofmissionviejo.org/news/share-your-opinions-about-sober-liv…

I would like to hear from people who have experienced sober living homes and if the homes have helped/not helped them. Without feedback from people who have been there, I can’t really assess if the sober homes are worth having those homes in the middle of neighborhoods where families and children live. The families should not have to worry about their safety or constant visits from police showing up at a sober home at all hours of the day. I would like to know what the success rate is to have a clearer understanding of protocols in place.

What percent of the population was surveyed?

Survey??? What survey? What criteria did True North Research and Dynata use to ensure a random cross section & a suitable sample?

Once again, the public has been put at a disadvantage.

The March 2024 survey was crafted in a manner to obtain the desired results. The questions were not only skewed, but also were based on the premise that public safety and infrastructure will suffer without tax increases.

Also, how can you call a 50% increase in taxes a modest tax increase?

And why wasn’t the public asked if they would prefer a specific tax earmarked for a specific purpose or a general tax without any assigned purpose?

It should be noted the Financial Report released on March 26, that as of December 31, 2023, City reserves were at 37.8 million, 51% of the projected revenue which is above the target reserve level of $35 million for the 2023-25 budget cycle.

If I were one of the respondents to this survey, I would come to the council meeting and protest the manner in which the questions were presented, because the results of this survey will now be used to sell the public a bill of goods based on the false premise that cuts to public safety and infrastructure are pending.

Did the respondents know that the questions were for a Special Tax or a General Tax, and if so, aware of the differences?

From the March 2024 TOT Survey, Page 3:

How does the type of tax impact the measure’s prospects?

Transient occupancy taxes can be structured as either a special tax or a general tax. A special tax earmarks the funds for a specific purpose (or purposes) and requires support from a supermajority (two-thirds) of voters to pass. Meanwhile, a general tax is “any tax imposed for general governmental purposes”2 and is distinguished from a special tax in that the funds raised by a general tax are not earmarked for a specific purpose(s). Thus, a general tax provides an agency with a great deal of flexibility with respect to what is funded by the measure on a year-to-year basis. Under California law, a general tax requires a simple majority (50% +1) for passage.

The survey results indicate that if structured as a general tax, the proposed TOT increase has a wide buffer of support (at least 16%) above the simple majority required for passage. Because a special tax requires a much higher two-thirds threshold for passage and voters’ initial level of support was at 66%, if structured as a special tax the TOT will require effective voter engagement and education to be successful (more on this below).