Survey shows opinions on Carson growth

A city survey released Thursday shows many Carson City residents think growth should be slower than the 3 percent rate allowed each year.

For the past 20 years, supervisors have voted each year to allow 3 percent residential growth.

Of the 414 city residents who responded to a written survey earlier this year, 41.3 percent said they think the growth cap should be 2 percent. Nearly 9 percent said it should be less than 2 percent.

Thirty-nine percent of the respondents said the cap should be kept at 3 percent; nearly 6 percent said it should be higher.

Administrative assistant Liz Teixeira said the city chooses one or two "hot topic" questions for the survey each spring. This year, "growth" was chosen.

Of the 414 people who were asked if they make their views on growth known to city officials, 318 said they don't. When asked why, one respondent said, "I should, but my biggest problem is turning away business in Carson City that would create more jobs and more taxes for Carson City and we are giving Douglas County more tax money for them. Why not Carson City?"

Many surveyed said they didn't have time or the topic was not a critical issue.

Survey Results

Surveys sent: 752 (20 were returned as undeliverable)

Surveys returned: 414 (56.5%)

What do you think the growth cap should be?

8.8% answered "less than 2%"

41.3% answered "2%"

39.3% answered "3%"

5.8% answered "4%"

4.8 answered "Other"

The employees in various city departments are courteous and helpful.

77.3% agreed

7% disagreed

15.7% had no opinion

Do you read Carson City's communitywide newsletter "Capital City Focus?"

11.8% read it a great deal

51% read it "some"

13.7% read it "not at all"

23.5% were unfamiliar with the newsletter

Using the city's Web site:

40.4% said they use the site to gather information

21.7% use it to get property and tax information

47% do not use the Internet