The Oklahoma State Capital

The City's voter survey has been concluded. The construction of a new main fire station receives the most support out of all of the proposed new projects.

This is the script from the finished survey. The script contains the final percentages of the polled voters.

88% of the subjects voted in the 1998 General Election. 12% did not.

48% of the subjects voted in the last Mayoral Election. 52% did not.

31% of the subjects voted in the last School Board Election. 69% did not.

Questions:

How long have you lived in Guthrie-all your life, more than 20 years, 10 to 20 years, or less than 10 years?

Entire Life: 29%

Over 20 Years: 30%

10-20 Years: 25%

Under 10 Years: 16%

Overall, how would you rate Guthrie as a place to live and raise a family-excellent, good, fair, or poor?

Excellent: 30%

Good: 54%

Fair: 13%

Poor: 4%

Over the past five years in Guthrie would you say the town has changed for the better, gotten worse, or stayed about the same?

Better: 44%

Gotten Worse: 10%

Stayed About The Same: 43%

DK/Refused: 2%

Now I would like to get your opinion on how well you think your city government does its job. Would you say the city government in Guthrie does a good job, a fair job, or a poor job in...

a. Keeping Guthrie's public services up to date and in good order.

Good: 42%

Fair: 43%

Poor: 11%

Not Sure: 4%

b. Planning for the future.

Good: 33%

Fair: 37%

Poor: 21%

Not Sure: 10%

c. Spending tax dollars pretty wisely.

Good: 28%

Fair: 41%

Poor: 21%

Not Sure: 9%

d. listening to the concerns of its citizens

Good: 29%

Fair: 39%

Poor: 22%

Not Sure: 9%

Now I would like to ask you about taxes in Guthrie. Some people say taxes are pretty reasonable here in Guthrie; others think taxes are much too high; and still others think taxes are fairly low in comparison to other towns.

How would you rate the city sales tax in Guthrie-as pretty reasonable, too high, or fairly low?

Too High: 46%

Pretty Reasonable: 50%

Fairly Low: 3%

DK/Not Sure: 2%

Lately there has been a lot of discussion about what kind of city Guthrie should be in the 21st century. I would like to read you some ideas about the future and get your opinion on each. Some people would like to see Guthrie grow and prosper with lots of new jobs, housing additions, shopping areas, and new schools. Others would like to limit growth in Guthrie and keep it as a small historical community with more limited shopping and housing. How about you-would you like to see Guthrie grow more or keep Guthrie about like it is today?

Grow More: 65%

Keep Guthrie Like It Today: 18%

Little of Both: 17%

Some Guthrie citizens have told us that while they want to preserve and protect the small town and historical flavor of Guthrie, they think the City of Guthrie should spend additional dollars to invest in some projects that will make Guthrie a better place to live. The City Council wants your opinion as to whether you think the city should spend additional money to build each project. I would like to read you five different proposals that some citizens have proposed to improve Guthrie and have you tell me if you favor or oppose each.

Rotate Options

Some citizens say we either need to build a new fire station in Guthrie or completely refurbish the old main station. They say the present station is 95 years old, it is in violation of City and State building and fire codes, and it cannot now properly house its present fire equipment and crews. Others think the central fire station is OK as it is and it is not in need of expansion or modernization. It would cost approximately $2 million dollars to build a new station or to remodel the present station.

Do you strongly favor, mildly favor, mildly oppose, or strongly oppose the City of Guthrie spending 2 million dollars to either build a new central fire station or remodel the old one.

Strong Favor: 59%

Mildly Favor: 18%

Mildly Oppose: 8%

Strong Oppose: 10%

DK/Not Sure: 4%

If the City were forced by the State to upgrade the fire station, would you prefer to spend $2 million dollars to refurbish the old fire station or to build a new station on South Pine?

Refurbish Old: 30%

Build New: 56%

Not Sure: 6%

Neither: 8%

Some citizens say the present public library in Guthrie is in need to expansion and modernization. It would cost $680,000 to expand the library, modernize its services, and make it more accessible to the public. Others think our present library is OK as it is.

Would you strongly favor, mildly favor, mildly oppose, or strongly oppose the City spending additional dollars to expand and modernize the current public library?

Strong Favor: 34%

Mildly Favor: 20%

Mildly Oppose: 19%

Strong Oppose: 19%

DK/Not Sure: 8%

Some citizens say that Guthrie needs to greatly improve the quality of outdoor recreational facilities to its citizens both young and old. They say present facilities are too few and outdated. They propose building a new, state of the art, outdoor recreational complex in Guthrie. This outdoor park would contain 9 new baseball fields, 6 softball fields, 6 tennis courts, 2 soccer fields, and concession areas. The project could cost from 4 to 7 million dollars, depending on how many fields would be constructed and its location. Others think our present facilities are fine and we don't need to be building anymore. Do you strongly favor, mildly favor, mildly oppose, or strongly oppose having the city spend additional money to build to this new outdoor recreational park?

Strong Favor: 26%

Mildly Favor: 20%

Mildly Oppose: 19%

Strong Oppose: 30%

DK/Not Sure: 4%

Some citizens complaining that Guthrie does not have an adequate indoor facility to serve as a community center for all of its citizens. It would cost around 7 million dollars to build a new community center for Guthrie that would contain facilities for Guthrie's young people like indoor swimming pool, basketball courts, and exercise facilities as well as providing large meeting rooms for community events and family reunions. Others tell us they don't think Guthrie needs this type of facility. Do you strongly favor, mildly favor, mildly oppose, or strongly oppose the city building a new community center to provide recreational and meeting facilities for young and older citizens of Guthrie?

Strong Favor: 40%

Mildly Favor: 22%

Mildly Oppose: 13%

Strong Oppose: 20%

DK/Not Sure: 4%

City officials have been advises they need to expand its water and sewer lines within Guthrie. This involves spending 1.5 million dollars to build new sewer and water lines and to construct a new water tank. Others are opposed to expanding water and sewer services. Do you strongly favor, mildly favor, mildly oppose, or strongly oppose spending additional dollars to expand water and sewer services in Guthrie?

Strong Favor: 45%

Mildly Favor: 27%

Mildly Oppose: 9%

Strong Oppose: 9%

DK/Not Sure: 10%

The city government of Guthrie cannot now afford to undertake any of these proposed projects with its present budget as all of the present budget is now dedicated to providing current police, fire, street, library, and park services. If the voters of Guthrie chose to build any of these projects, how much, if any, would you be willing to raise the city's sales tax to fund any of these improvements - a quarter cent per dollar, a half cent per dollars, 3/4 cents per dollar, a full penny increase, or no increase in the sales tax at all.

Quarter Cent: 15%

Half Cent: 26%

3/4 Cent: 3%

Full Cent: 27%

No Increase: 26%

Not Sure/Ref: 3%

If "No Increase in above questions:

Would you vote for a small sales increase if you knew it was going to be a temporary tax lasting no more than 5 to 7 years?

Yes: 7%%

No: 17%%

Not Sure: 4%

Not Asked: 71%

How much per month, if any, would you be willing to pay in local property taxes to build any of these projects-10 dollars per month, 20 dollars per month, 30 dollars per month, 40 dollars per month, or absolutely no more dollars per month?

$10 Per Month: 31%

$20 Per Month: 6%

$30 Per Month: 1%

$40 Per Month: 0%

No More Per Month: 56%

Not Sure/Ref: 6%

The City of Guthrie now has 1.8 million dollars in a trust fund from the sale of its Job Corps facility. If the voters should approve any of the projects we have discussed, would you favor or oppose using some of this 1.8 million dollars to complete or operate a new facility?

Favor: 79%

Oppose: 14%

Not Sure/Ref: 7%

Let me make certain that I understand you attitude about a tax increase for each individual project. If an election were held today for a tax increase , would you definitely vote for, probably vote for, probably vote against, or definitely vote against a tax increase to pay for each project.

a. refurbish or build a new 2 million dollar fire station for Guthrie.

Definitely For: 53%

Probably For: 20%

Probably Against: 10%

Definitely Against: 14%

DK/Refused: 3%

b. spend 680 thousand dollars to expand and modernize the present public library in Guthrie.

Definitely For: 31%

Probably For: 21%

Probably Against: 14%

Definitely Against: 30%

DK/Refused: 4%

c. build the new 4 million dollar outdoor recreational facility with its new baseball, softball, and soccer fields in Guthrie at one central location.

Definitely For: 22

Probably For: 22%

Probably Against: 18%

Definitely Against: 35%

DK/Refused: 4%

d. build a new 7 million dollar community center that would house indoor swimming, basketball, and exercise facilities as well as meeting and reunion facilities.

Definitely For: 31%

Probably For: 21%

Probably Against: 18%

Definitely Against: 27%

DK/Refused: 3%

e. spend around 1.5 million to extend water and sewer lines in Guthrie.

Definitely For: 41%

Probably For: 23%

Probably Against: 12%

Definitely Against: 15%

DK/Refused: 8%

A. If the city of Guthrie could afford only to build one of these five projects, which one would be your first choice:

First Choice:

A new fire station: 52%

Modernize the library: 9%

Build a new outdoor recreational facility: 8%

Build the indoor recreational/community center:12%

Expand water and sewer service south: 16%

None: 3%

Which of these would be your second Choice if any?

A new fire station: 22%

Modernize the library: 17%

Build a new outdoor recreational facility: 11%

Build the indoor recreational/community center:17%

Expand water and sewer service south: 25%

None: 8%

Which of these three statements best summarizes your view about these projects and taxes?

I think Guthrie is fine as it is and I am oppose to raising taxes: 6%

I am in favor of building some of the projects, but I am opposed to raising taxes to do so: 35%

I am in favor of some of these projects and am willing to raise my taxes to see that they get built: 54%

None: 5%

Now I need to get some background information for statistical purposes only.

What is your approximate age?

18-29: 9%

30-39: 12%

40-49: 22%

50-59: 30%

60 and above: 26%

At which of these points did you stop your formal education?

High School or Tech School Graduate or Less: 44%

Some College: 29%

College Graduate: 19%

College Post Graduate: 6%

Refused to Answer: 1%

How many children under the age of 18 live in this household?

None: 65%

1: 13%

2: 12%

3: 6%

4: 2%

5: 1%

Are you currently employed?

Yes: 59%

No: 41%

If employed where do you work:

Guthrie: 34%

Commute: 26%

What was the approximate income of your family last year?

Below 10,000: 7%

10 to 20,000: 14%

20 to 30,000: 19%

30 to 40,000: 17%

40 to 50,000: 6%

50,000 or more: 13%

DK/Refused: 25%