Cut Social Services, Not Public Safety, Residents Say

Pinellas County released the results of a budget survey taken be nearly 3,000 residents this week. 

In it, residents said overall they were satisfied with the services the county provided and how tax dollars were used.

The areas that the public said they cut first and were the lowest priority were public services like public housing and financial assistance for utility bills for families in need.

Areas that should be cut last, according to the survey results, were public safety, parks and environmental programs. 

From Aug. 25-29, Pinellas County posted an online survey county residents could take to state their priorities about county services and where budget cuts should be made. 

Survey Results

1. How would you rate the way Pinellas County provides service to residents?

• Excellent - 15.6%
• Good - 60.5 percent
• Fair - 20.6%
• Poor - 3.3%

2. How would you rate the way Pinellas County provides value for tax dollars?

• Excellent - 8.9%
• Good - 45.2%
• Fair - 35%
• Poor - 10.9%

Fort De Soto

3. Would you support an entrance fee to Fort De Soto Park?

• Yes - 69.8%
• No - 30.s%

4. If yes, would you be willing to pay an $8 entrance fee?

• Yes - 44.4%
• No - 55.6%

5. Would you be willing to pay a $5 entrance fee?

• Yes - 73.4%
• No - 26.6%

6. What about a $75 annual pass?

• Yes - 31.2%
• No - 68.8%

7. Have you visited Fort DeSoto Park within the past three years?

• Yes - 66%
• No - 34%

County Services

8. What service comes to mind that the County should cut first?

• Social Services - 24%
• Taxes/Salaries/Budget - 20%
• Economic/Community Development - 15%
• Parks - 10%
• Public Safety - 8%
• Transportation - 7%
• Other - 5%
• Environment - 5%
• Housing - 3%
• Schools - 2%
• Utilities - 1%

9. One idea to reduce costs is closing certain branch offices that provide services such as driver’s licenses, paying taxes, and voter registration. Would you be willing to drive further if closing some of these locations saved the County money?

• Yes - 80.3%
• No - 19.7%

10. How much longer would you drive?

• 30 mins - 29.4%
• 20 mins - 54%
• 10 mins - 16.6%

11. If reducing the number of county customer service representatives would save money, would you be willing to conduct more transactions online?

• Yes - 87.9%
• No - 12.1%

12. What county service would you cut last?

• Public Safety - 37%
• Parks - 20%
• Social Services - 13%
• Transportation - 9%
• Environmental - 6%
• Schools/Libraries - 4%
• Taxes/Budgets/Salaries - 4%
• Utilities - 2%
• Other - 2%
• Economic Development - 2%
• Housing - 1%

A majority of the respondents, 64% live within incorporated cities in the county, 98 percent were property owners and most respondents, 62.8%, were between the ages 40-64.

The county said it also conducted a phone survey on April 29 that closely mirrored the results of the online survey.