The results of the 2010 Decatur Citizen Survey are included at the back of the 2010-2011 Decatur budget now posted online.   As always, I find this document to be the closest thing to a reality-check that we have to gauge overall Decatur opinion against the “survival of the loudest, most verbose and persuasive” of DM.

The breakdowns for the “policy questions” are among the most interesting.  Here’s the first one…

“In today’s current economic condition, it is the City’s goal to maintain the existing levels of service at current property tax rates.  If that is not possible, which of the following would you prefer?

• Maintain levels of service, increase tax rate up to one-half of a mill ($100 per year on a $400,000 property) – 45%
• Maintain levels of service, increase tax rate up to one mill ($200 per year on a $400,000 property) – 14%
• Maintain tax rate, decrease levels of service – 24%
• Decrease tax rate no matter how much it decreases levels of service – 17%