Sacramento State News - California State University, Sacramento
May 18, 2007
Sacramentans cite traffic, education, crime and growth as top issues to address
In spite of the high levels of satisfaction and excitement for life in the region, Sacramento area residents voiced concerns on a wide range of issues, according to the 2007 Sacramento State Annual Survey of the Region. Traffic, roads and transportation-related issues were the highest on the priority list for Sacramentans (23 percent) when they were asked to state, in their own words, the top priorities for city or county governments to address in 2007. Education (15 percent) was cited as the second highest priority, and crime was mentioned by 12 percent of the respondents, making it the third most important issue in the minds of residents.
The survey, conducted by Sacramento State Professor Amy Liu and her students, also found that an overwhelming majority of Sacramento region residents—87 percent—express satisfaction with their overall quality of life, And within that group, 36 percent proclaim they are very satisfied. The high level of satisfaction ranks among the highest observed since the survey began in 2002 (37 percent in 2002, 30 percent in 2003, and 29 percent in 2004, 2005 and 2006). In addition, 59 percent of residents believe the region is an exciting place to live.
Population growth and development was reported by 8 percent of area residents as the fourth biggest priority in the region. Other issues included flooding (5 percent), environment/pollution (5 percent), healthcare (5 percent) and affordable housing (3 percent).
Other findings include:
Sacramento County residents believe crime (16 percent) and education (16 percent) are equally important issues.
Population growth has greater significance for residents in Placer (14 percent) and Yolo (12 percent) counties, versus 8 percent for all counties surveyed.
Higher income residents—those making $100,000 or more annually—were the least likely to say that the Sacramento region is an exciting place to live.
More than two-thirds of area residents (68 percent) think it is important to keep the Sacramento Kings in the region. However, the Kings, parks and other entertainment-related issues barely register as top priorities for local governments to take up in 2007.
The survey was a computer-assisted telephone interview of 1,106 randomly selected adults from Sacramento, Yolo, Placer and El Dorado counties. It has a margin of error of 3 percent.
