A new survey presented to Sturgeon County council this week indicates residents are looking for more recreation opportunities, but aren't interested in a significant tax increase to pay for them.
The consulting firm RC Strategies conducted the telephone survey and determined 52 per cent of respondents felt the availability of recreation facilities was limited in the region.
At the top of the list, 38 per cent of residents polled wanted to see more pools, 37 per cent wanted to see a new fitness or wellness facility and 26 per cent would like to see more dirt bike and ATV trails.
The money to pay for these facilities should not come from property tax increases was the other message from the survey. The result showed 42 per cent of respondents wanted no tax increase while another 40 per cent would accept as much as a $100 increase to cover off the costs of the extra amenities.
Coun. Don McGeachy said he takes the survey as a direction from the public to work closer with other municipalities to maximize tax dollars.
"The whole idea is to make the most of the funds that we have got and make the most of the funds you get in the grant process."
He said working with other municipalities will help the county's dollars go further.
"We don't have the money and the other municipalities also don't have the money to do everything they want."
He said he believes if the county is transparent about how it is spending money it can more clearly show residents that there simply isn't any room for more spending without higher property taxes.
"It is all about transparency. If you say it is not in the budget and you can show why, most logical-thinking people will understand."
In addition to household feedback, the consultants solicited opinions from groups that use recreation and cultural facilities. Some 64 per cent indicated there was a need for new or upgraded facilities.
Regional facilities
The survey also polled residents on which regional facilities they use.
Residents were asked whether they had used a certain facility in the last year and 47 per cent of residents said they had used Servus Credit Union Place, 30 per cent went to the Dow Centennial Centre in Fort Saskatchewan while 20 per cent travelled to the TransAlta Tri Leisure centre in Spruce Grove.
They survey also suggested that 18 per cent of residents used the Morinville public library in that time frame.
McGeachy said he doesn't completely trust those results and believes the actual number of county residents who regularly use those facilities is much lower. The survey asked if people had used the facility at any point in the last year, he noted.
"That could be so many things – a meeting place with work, your kids playing hockey or going to the gym."
The report will now be used to help draft a recreation and community services master plan, which is to be completed next year.
The survey polled 908 residents giving it a margin of error of three per cent, 19 times out of 20.
