Results of Budget Survey

Earlier this year Oshkosh residents received, with their water bill, a budget survey. Two questions were asked:

1. Which city services, functions, or programs would you like to see the City continue funding as high priority items?
2. Which city services, functions, or programs would you like to see the City identify as low priority items?

From July through October, 822 citizens returned surveys. I think that's a pretty good response rate.

Below are the responses.

Questions #1: Which city services, functions, or programs would you like to see the City continue funding as high priority items?

• High Priority #1: Streets (repairs, improvements, sidewalks). 440 responses.
• High Priority #2: Sewer (flooding issues, storm water). 282 responses
• High Priority #3: Streets (garbage pickup, snow removal). 253 responses
• High Priority #4: Police and Fire Service. 210 responses
• Other High Priorities:
• Library (63 responses)
• Children Programs/Schools (42 responses)
• Water/Sewer (40 responses)
• Riverwalk/Beautification (32 responses)
• Stores/Industry (32 responses)
• Parks/Maintenance of (27 responses)
• Museum (27 responses)
• Basic Services (25 rsponses)
• Bike Routes/Bus Programs (20 responses)
• Cultural Events (13 responses)
• Senior Programs (11 responses)
• Monthly Water Bills (6 responses)
• Goose/Bird Issues (5 responses)
• Water Park (4 responses)
• No usage fees; drop-off site (3 responses)
• Crack down on slum landlords (3 responses)
• New Street Garage (2 responses)
• Low Income Needs (2 responses)
• Airport/Commercial Flights (1 response)

Question #2: Which City services, functions, or programs would you like to see the City identify as low priority items?

• Low Priority #1: Redevelopment (TIF Programs, Purchases of Land/Buildings, Riverwalk, Main St.). 243 responses
• Low Priority #2: Parks (Zoo, Playground Replacement, Skatepark, Flowers, Leach). 90 responses
• Low Priority #3: Library, Museum, Grand Opera House. 37 responses.
• Other Low Priorities:
• Westhaven (20 responses)
• Street Sweeper (19 responses)
• Roundabouts (19 responses)
• Look at Personnel (16 responses)
• Garabage Collection/Contract Out (10 responses)
• Sundial Project (8 responses)
• Golf Course (8 responses)
• Out of Town Surveys/Expertise (7 responses)
• Do Not Fix Potholes/Worse After (6 responses)
• Floating Dock (6 responses)
• Replace and Reduce City Council (5 responses)
• Media Services (5 responses)
• Public Works-Weed Control (5 responses)
• Overnight Parking Fines (5 responses)
• Christmas Lights (3 responses)
• Gas Mileage/Look into City Vehicles (3 responses)
• Senior Center (3 responses)
• Planning Department (3 responses)
• Tourism (2 responses)
• Snell Road Fire Station (2 responses)
• Personal Use of Police Vehicles (2 responses)
• Cemetary (1 response)
• Animal Licensing (1 response)
• Schools (1 response)
• Bookmobile (1 response)
• Filming a Movie (1 response).