Community:City of San Jose (Santa Clara County)
Population: 989,498

Summary: Professional Polling

San Jose retained a professional polling company to survey a random, representative sample of residents about their perceptions of city services and funding priorities. The survey used a random-digit dial method and reached 450 people. It was conducted in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.

The survey included questions about trade-offs, such as, “Would you cut X to increase public safety?” Questions also covered residents’ rating of the quality of public services, perception of the city budget, priorities for spending increases or cuts, and budget-related policy issues. A number of demographic questions allowed analysis of survey results by particular subgroups.