Washington County: One
Community
2007 Quality of Life Survey Results
Washington
County: One Community
distributed a
Quality of Life survey to all postal customers in the county in
the summer of 2007. A total of
18,000 households received a survey that
was enclosed in the first Washington County: One Community
newsletter. We received
1085 responses, representing a response rate of about 6%.
The following summary provides
links to charts of the results. Many of the graphics contain
additional links to written comments submitted by the
respondents. Where available, a link to the comments will be
found immediately under the title of the main slide.
Further written comments,
not linked to a specific question were included on many surveys;
they are organized according to
INPUT to Washington
County: One Community,
NEEDS of Washington County,
PROBLEMS of Washington
County,
TAXES issues
in Washington County, and
GENERAL comments.
Both the charts and the comments
are in PDF format, so you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view
the linked files.
Demographics of Survey
Respondents
Individuals, families and businesses
responded
from 50 communities. The
majority have
lived in Washington County for >20 years
and
91% live here
year-round. Respondents live mostly in 2 or 1 person
households
and
58% are female.
Compared to the whole
population of Washington County survey respondents have
higher incomes and are
older and more
educated.
Reflecting the older age of
respondents, only
54% of respondents identify themselves as not retired.
The remaining respondents are retired from work in Washington
County (18%) or elsewhere (28%).
Responses to Quality of Life
Questions
The
top four
reasons to live in Washington County
according to respondents are general lifestyle, natural
resources/beauty, family, and that they can afford to live
here. Respondents are
proud to call Washington County home
and the majority feel welcomed in their communities.
The vast majority of respondents
volunteer in their communities
but could use
more time, better transportation and more connections
to be involved. There were many written comments associated
with responses to these questions - follow the links above to
reach the PDF files of written comments.
Responses to Questions on
Employment and Jobs
Those who have work are satisfied
with it, but many households say there are not enough jobs in
the County to support them.
Health benefits would
encourage many to take a full time job while some would lose
income or benefits if they took full time work. Many commented
on these questions, follow links connected to the slide of
charted responses. The cost or lack of transportation and the
distance to jobs are as much
barriers to finding work
as are the lack of jobs.
Very few do not know
how to get information and services
about jobs and business development. Many respondents had no
opinion about
finding safe and reliable child care
which is likely a reflection of the high number of older and
retired respondents. However for those who cannot find child
care written comments indicate that their problems are severe
and many written comments also noted the lack of elder care –
see written comments linked to the charted results about child
care.
Many respondents felt that more could be
done to
connect students with businesses
and provided suggestions in written comments.
The charted results of what is
acceptable economic development
are not particularly conclusive. Respondents could mark all that
apply so many marked all categories. The top three selected
include small business, small manufacturing, and vocational
trades following closely by tourism, agriculture, health
services and aquaculture. Written comments provide more insights
to this question. Interestingly, while government workers
constitute over 20% of employment in the county only about 7% of
respondents believe government services are an acceptable form
of economic development.
Questions about use of services
Schools:
Schools,
particularly elementary schools, are an important part of our
communities and many provided comments on
multiple uses for them.
Many would get
services from other towns
or the county if the cost was the same, but many would not, and
many more would not give up any
local control even if it
meant reducing their property taxes.
Broadband:
A county-wide survey in 2005 indicated
that 70% of households used a dial-up (slow) connection to
access the internet. The Washington County: One Community asked
if respondents had installed high-speed (broadband) access to
the internet since that time. Since 2005, 189 respondents (20%)
have installed a
high-speed internet connection,
13% already had one, and 645 respondents (67%) had not. The
reasons for not installing
high-speed internet were primarily that it was not available or
too costly.
Transportation:
Many respondents have
limited ability to obtain basic services due to the cost of
transportation. It is
particularly difficult for
those earning less than $35,000/year
to get to jobs, medical services, social events and even to
purchase groceries. Transportation costs limit access to these
services for
those earning as much as $75,000/year.
Given that fuel has risen substantially since the survey was
taken (August, 2007) we can conclude that access to jobs and
services is even further limited for more individuals at all
income levels.
If available, several transportation alternatives would be used
with train, bus and ferry
receiving the highest ratings.
Media:
Respondents indicated that they
get the majority of their information
about their schools, communities, civic affairs, and local
government from local newspapers. The Bangor newspapers followed
local papers as sources on information particularly for jobs.
Radio and television were also important for community
information with some using the web, text messaging and the
2-1-1 web site as well.
Response was enthusiastic from many that
they would use a
Washington County: One Community web site
for multiple reasons.
