The City of Moose Jaw recently released the results of its 2024 budget and resident satisfaction survey, which asked residents 18 questions about their priorities for next year’s budget and their satisfaction with municipal programs and services.
There were 465 people who responded, representing roughly 1.3 per cent of the population. In comparison, 396 people responded to last year’s survey, representing 1.14 per cent of the population.
Of note, over half of residents who responded to the survey are “very dissatisfied” with city hall’s efforts to repair and maintain roads, while nearly half want city council to focus on roads during 2024 budget talks.
Question 1
Asked what programs or city services they had used or appreciated during the past year, respondents’ top responses were:
- 59.87 per cent for waste/recycling collection
- 58.33 per cent for water and sewer service
- 56.58 per cent for parks and pathways
- 33.77 per cent for indoor recreation venues/programs
- 33.55 per cent for the Moose Jaw Public Library
- 32.46 per cent for infrastructure repair
Question 2
Asked what kind of community residents want, the top responses were:
- Safe
- Family-oriented, community-focused, respectful and kind
- Affordable, accessible, inclusive and diverse
- Well-maintained and vibrant
- Supportive of business and economic development
- Focused on sports, recreation and pathways/green spaces
Question 3
Asked what council should consider in its budget deliberations to achieve the community people want, the top responses were:
- Roadways at 44.42 per cent
- Water/solid waste infrastructure
- Outdoor recreation venue upgrades
- Environmental services, including waste collection and landfill
- Indoor recreation venue upgrades
- Protective services (fire and police)
Question 4
Asked about how satisfied people are with the overall quality of services they receive:
- A combined 37.96 per cent were very satisfied, satisfied or somewhat satisfied
- 9.11 per cent were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
- A combined 52.93 per cent were somewhat dissatisfied, dissatisfied or very dissatisfied
Question 5
Asked how satisfied people are with bylaw enforcement, including animal control, traffic, noise/nuisance, property standards and parking:
- A combined 35.06 per cent were very satisfied, satisfied or somewhat satisfied
- 21 per cent were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
- A combined 43.94 were somewhat dissatisfied, dissatisfied or very dissatisfied
Question 6
Asked what people thought of water and wastewater services:
- A combined 56.61 per cent were very satisfied, satisfied or somewhat satisfied
- 11.5 per cent were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
- A combined 31.89 were somewhat dissatisfied, dissatisfied or very dissatisfied
Question 7
Asked about satisfaction with parks and recreation venues and programs:
- A combined 59.01 per cent were very satisfied, satisfied or somewhat satisfied
- 20.17 were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
- A combined 20.83 were somewhat dissatisfied, dissatisfied or very dissatisfied
Question 8
When it comes to road repairs and maintenance:
- 50.65 per cent were very dissatisfied
- 19.26 per cent were dissatisfied
- 14.94 per cent were somewhat dissatisfied
- 8.01 per cent were somewhat satisfied
- 4.33 per cent were satisfied
- 2.38 per cent were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
- 0.43 per cent were very satisfied
Question 9
With transit and paratransit services:
- A combined 23.03 per cent were very satisfied, satisfied or somewhat satisfied
- 48.68 per cent were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
- A combined 28.29 were somewhat dissatisfied, dissatisfied or very dissatisfied
Question 10
With arts and cultural activities, programs and venues:
- A combined 54.45 per cent were very satisfied, satisfied or somewhat satisfied
- 37.09 per cent were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
- A combined 8.47 per cent were somewhat dissatisfied, dissatisfied or very dissatisfied
Question 11
With economic development, such as promoting the city to investors, supporting community businesses with incentives, business licensing, and other activities:
- A combined 32.1 were very satisfied, satisfied or somewhat satisfied
- 30.59 per cent were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
- A combined 37.32 were somewhat dissatisfied, dissatisfied or very dissatisfied
Question 12 asked respondents what the most important issue facing Moose Jaw is today, while question 13 asked what one change people would implement that could result in a significantly positive effect on the quality of life for residents.
City hall used word clouds to summarize the responses, with certain words larger than others indicating people’s preferences.
Question 14 asked respondents how long they have lived in Moose Jaw, while question 15 asked their age.
Question 16 asked people where they lived in Moose Jaw; question 17 asked how people preferred to receive information about city programs and services; and question 18 asked what social media platforms people use.
The next regular city council meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 14.
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