Survey: Orindans Approve Of Government, New Sales Tax

Results of a recent telephone survey of 400 likely voters in Orinda has found that those polled approved of their city government and its departments - and that they would sit still for a sales tax devoted to fixing some of the city's failing infrastructure.

The phone survey, conducted between Jan.14-21 by the opinion research firm Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates, was intended to gauge residents' attitudes toward city government and ballot measures financing infrastructure improvements or additional revenue for general city services.

"Overall, the results show that voters are very satisfied with the performance of City government," Fairbank say in their summary report. "More than three-quarters rate the performance of City government as at least "average..."

Seven out of ten Orindans surveyed approved of their Library, Police Department, and Parks and Recreation Department, according to the survey results - and also delivered a slightly rosier evaluation of their City Council than they did during a previous survey in 2008.

But beyond the "how are we doing?" questioning, the survey pointedly asked those contacted how to best fund repairs to failing infrastructure.

"...While a consistent majority of local voters supports a ballot measure to fund infrastructure improvement, support remains steadily below the two-thirds supermajority required for approval," the survey revealed. "There seems to be little that the City can do to change that essential dynamic - including changing the funding mechanism used, reducing its cost impact, or conducting a program of public education..."

However, "slim" majorities of those contacted expressed "initial" willingness to back either a quarter-cent sales tax or a $53 annual parcel tax - the surveyors pointing out that while the parcel tax would require a two-thirds majority, the sales tax would need only majority approval in order to pass.

With all that, 69 percent of those polled expressed dissatisfaction with - you guessed it - Orinda's streets and roadways and said the city could do a better job keeping them in good order.

Results of the survey will, of course, be discussed at tonight's meeting of the Orinda City Council.