For the third year in a row, an annual county survey ranked population growth and new developments as the most significant issue facing Sarasota County.
In a survey of 1,250 Sarasota County residents, 31.4% of respondents said this was the most important problem.
This percentage is up from last year, when 23.2% of county residents surveyed said “population growth/new development.”
Last year:Survey rates population growth and new developments as the most significant issue facing Sarasota County
Other news:County says Venice waterfront restaurant still too flooded to reopen after Hurricane Ian
This year, the second most popular response was “there are no serious problems” (13% of respondents) and “affordable housing” was third (5.8%).
The University of South Florida and marketing consulting firm HCP Associates conducted the Sarasota County Citizen Opinion Survey, and the margin of error for the county as a whole was ±2.77% . Residents were interviewed between July 20 and August 28.
Some of the survey results are provided below, along with percentages from last year.
What do you think is the most important issue facing Sarasota County today?
- Population growth/new development, 31% (23% in 2021)
- There are no serious problems, 13% (10%)
- Affordable housing, 6% (2%)
- Crime, 5% (4%)
- Storm water/drainage/flooding, 5% (5%)
- Quality of our waterways, 5% (6%)
- Healthcare, 4% (3%)
- Water, 4% (2%)
- Taxes, 4% (6%)
- Government and elected officials, 3% (2%)
What do you think is putting the most pressure on your own household finances right now?
- None of the above – no stress felt, 23% (28% in 2021)
- Household finance, 17% (8%)
- Gas prices, 12% (7%)
- Taxes in general, 10% (10%)
- Property taxes, 9% (8%)
- Personal debt, 6% (8%)
- Cost of health care, 5% (6%)
- Home insurance, 4% (2%)
- Prescription drugs, 4% (3%)
- Don’t know/NA/refused to answer, 2% (2%)
Anne Snabes covers city and county government for the Herald-Tribune. You can contact her at asnabes@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter at @a_snabes.