May 9, 2003

Budget, traffic are top concerns in region

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Capital Region residents cite local government budget deficits and traffic congestion as the most challenging issues facing the region, according to a survey by researchers from California State University, Sacramento.

The survey shows 68 percent of residents think local government deficits are a “big problem” while another 21 percent call them “somewhat of a problem.”

Traffic congestion on major roads was called a “big problem” by 58 percent of those surveyed. While still significant, that’s 15 percent lower than the survey found last year, mirroring a statewide trend of lower concern about the issue. It is similar to responses about traffic congestion in surveys conducted in the Bay Area (59 percent call it a big problem) and Los Angeles (61 percent call it a big problem).

The findings are from the “Annual Survey of Public Opinion and Life Quality in the Sacramento Region.” Previously released results focused on such issues as the war in Iraq and affirmative action.

Among other issues respondents called a “big problem” in the Capital Region: affordable housing (51 percent), quality of education (50 percent), affordable health care (49 percent), air pollution (43 percent), urban sprawl or growth (43 percent), the economy (40 percent), crime (27 percent) and well-paying jobs (27 percent).

The second “Annual Survey of Public Opinion and Life Quality in the Sacramento Region” was carried out by CSUS sociology professor Amy Liu and more than 30 students at the Institute for Social Research. They surveyed 996 randomly selected adults in Sacramento, Yolo, Placer and El Dorado counties from Feb. 15 to March 13. The margin of error is 3 percent.

Additional media assistance is available from CSUS public affairs at (916) 278-6156.

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