SDI/CERC Barometer: Public supports raise for Firefighters; Public Safety top Budget Priority; No Change in Job Approval of Local Elected Officials
SAN DIEGO, CA: May 16, 2007 - The majority of San Diegans want to see San Diego firefighters receive a raise and many have specific ideas of where offsetting cuts can be made, according to polling information released today by the San Diego Institute for Policy Research (SDI).
In the latest SDI/CERC Public Opinion Barometer, 61 percent of San Diegans disagree with the Council and Mayor's decision not to give City firefighters a 2 percent raise. In contrast, only 33 percent agree with the decision to keep salaries frozen. When those favoring the raise were asked what they would cut to pay for the raise, 44 percent recommended either the City Council's or the Mayor's office budget. Eleven percent of respondents believed arts and cultural programs should be cut to pay for the raise while another 11 percent favored making offsetting reductions in the City's aquatics programs.
The high level of importance placed by the community on public safety is seen in other parts of the survey. When asked to prioritize various city functions, 88 percent of San Diegans responded by saying that it is extremely or very important to fully fund the Fire and Lifeguard Departments; 87 percent responded similarly about the Police Department. In contrast, only 40 percent ranked fully funding Arts and Cultural programs as extremely or very important, with a meager 27 percent placing as high an importance on public swimming pools.
"When asked to prioritize, the public recognizes public safety as the city's top concern," said Steven Francis, Chairman and Founder of the San Diego Institute for Policy Research. He went on to add, "When it comes to firefighter's salaries, the public seems to be saying that they wished City leaders had looked harder for cuts that could have been made to fund a small pay raise for the men and women of the San Diego Fire and Rescue Department."
SDI and CERC findings also show that the public's view of Mayor Jerry Sanders remains unchanged from March (64 percent approval rating in May versus 66 percent in March). Similarly, approval ratings for City Attorney Mike Aguirre (46.7 percent in May versus 49.4 percent in March) and the City Council (46.5 percent in May versus 49.3 percent in March) show no significant change over a two-month period.
One of the most significant May Barometer findings concerns the public's view of San Diego's fiscal situation. For the first time in 2007, the number of San Diegans who believe the City's fiscal situation is improving is now equal to the number who think it is getting worse. On the other hand, the percentage of San Diegans who believe the City is headed in the right direction has now dipped below 50 percent. The total number of San Diegans who reported this view is down 6 percent since the beginning of the year. In reviewing these results, pollster John Nienstedt took note of the interesting juxtaposition between growing optimism related to the City's finances and deterioration in overall sentiment as proof that righting the City's fiscal ship is painful. "The results on overall civic mood reflect the challenges of working through the city's financial problems," says Nienstedt.
SDI took note that nearly all the increase in positive opinions related to City finances originates with registered voters. Thirty-two percent of voters believe the City's finances are improving, while only 15 percent of non-voters agree. "What we're seeing is that voters are becoming 'believers' in the turnaround. That's significant because voters pay more attention and are the community's opinion leaders. They must buy-in before the rest of the population will come along," Nienstedt said.
The survey also shows support for making job reductions in the City's workforce. When informed that the Mayor's proposed budget would eliminate 671 positions, 47 percent indicated their support and only 35.5 percent expressed their opposition to the reductions. This survey reveals a big difference between the opinions of voters and non-voters as well, with the former much more likely to agree with making the proposed job eliminations and 28 percent strongly supporting this course of action. In stark contrast, only 15 percent of unregistered respondents strongly support the workforce cuts.