Public Sector Consultants (PSC), an independent, nonpartisan company based in Lansing, will conduct an expansive community survey of all property owners in the Four Lakes Special Assessment District in January 2021 to understand residents’ views of the assessment and property owner demographics.
Note – FLTF on behalf of the Four Lakes Special Assessment District is interested in your views which will be shared with the counties. Please use this opportunity to make your voice heard. We will also hold multiple public meetings in 2021 to obtain property owner input.
Note – FLTF on behalf of the Four Lakes Special Assessment District is interested in your views which will be shared with the counties. Please use this opportunity to make your voice heard. We will also hold multiple public meetings in 2021 to obtain property owner input.
Paper surveys mailed January 13 to same address as where your tax bills are sent
|
Survey closes March 12, 2021
|
Responses are completely confidential
|
Respond online or via mail
|
Timeline
|
January 13, 2021
Paper surveys mailed |
March 12, 2021
Survey closes - responses no longer accepted |
April 2021
PSC final report delivered to FLTF |
May 2021
Results included in report to counties |
faqs
|
Who should take the survey?
All property owners within the Four Lakes Special Assessment District (SAD). Search your last name or parcel ID number here if you're unsure if your property is included in the SAD. The survey is designed to be taken by only one member of each property. The unique identification code on the mailed survey ensures that PSC only receives one response per property and that no duplicate surveys are submitted. What is the purpose of the survey?
The purpose is to understand the communities’ desire to restore the lakes, and to understand property owner appetite and ability to pay the assessment. ARE MY SURVEY RESPONSES ANONYMOUS?
FLTF representatives and board members and county representatives will not be able to see responses in connection with specific property owners. This information will be held in confidence within PSC. How is FLTF protecting confidentiality of the respondents?
The survey is anonymous. To make the survey easy to complete online, individual property owners have a code which can be tracked back to their name. This code system is designed to ensure that no one can take the survey more than one time. It can only be referenced by Public Sector Consultants and will not be used to review individual responses. No one in the FLTF organization will have access to the surveys or to the names of individuals who have completed a survey. Why did FLTF choose a third party to conduct the survey?
By asking a third party to conduct the survey, it ensures confidentiality and anonymity of property owners. It also encourages property owners to provide candid feedback. It was important to us to use experts who know how to write concise, unbiased questions to obtain the exact information want. How much did the survey cost? Is this a competitive cost?
How much did the survey cost? The total price is about $65,000, which includes data analysis, reporting, mailing and production. FLTF sought bids for the project and interviewed three potential survey companies. We chose Public Sector Consultants (PSC) because of its respected position in this field. PSC is an independent, nonpartisan company based in Lansing. Interestingly, PSC is assisting the Michigan Dam Safety Task Force by facilitating that group. PSC also had prior knowledge of our priorities because of a previous project for Sanford Lake. This is an important issue and PSC was the best firm and the best value. Is this a competitive cost? Quality survey work can range in cost, depending on the size of the population being surveyed, the length of the survey and other factors. We felt the price was reasonable given the large sample size (nearly 6,500 surveys were sent to property owners) and the amount of data analysis needed. Will we get to see the survey results? Will Results impact the sad?
Will we get to see the survey results? Yes. In April we will have the results and share them first with the counties and then the community. Will the survey results impact the Special Assessment District? We will use the survey results to inform the counties and FLTF decision-making related to the special assessment, as well as help us understand the sentiment of the community moving forward. It is not a vote nor does it change a homeowner’s right to appeal their assessment. How will my information be used?
The purpose is to inform the counties and FLTF decision-making related to the special assessment, as well as help us understand the sentiment of the community moving forward. |
I LOST THE LETTER FROM PSC/I DON'T HAVE THE SURVEY CODE
If you or someone you know threw away the survey or lost the letter with your unique survey code, contact Cody Proudfoot at Public Sector Consultants. cproudfoot@publicsectorconsultants.com or 517-331-9499 I NEVER RECEIVED A SURVEY IN THE MAIL
If you or someone you know did not receive a survey and believe they should have, please contact Cody Proudfoot at Public Sector Consultants. cproudfoot@publicsectorconsultants.com or 517-331-9499 I DON'T HAVE MAIL FORWARDING SET UP & I'M NOT LIVING AT MY PROPERTY
If you'd like the survey mailed to a different address because you do not have mail forwarding set up, please contact Cody Proudfoot at Public Sector Consultants at cproudfoot@publicsectorconsultants.com or 517-331-9499. Where did the mailing list come from?
The mailing list came from Gladwin and Midland counties. The county treasurer and/or township assessor provided a list of addresses where tax bills are sent within the Four Lakes Special Assessment District. I OR SOMEONE I KNOW ISN'T PHYSICALLY ABLE TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY
If you're having trouble filling out the survey, ask a friend or neighbor to help you. You can also contact Cody Proudfoot at Public Sector Consultants at cproudfoot@publicsectorconsultants.com or 517-331-9499 for assistance. How did PSC decide which questions to ask?
PSC worked with us to understand our goal – which was to inform the communities’ desire to restore the lakes, and their appetite or ability to pay. After discussions with the FLTF team and additional research, PSC wrote the survey. We reviewed it and ultimately approved the questions and methodology. If I do not answer a question will my survey be counted?
Yes, you may leave a question blank and your survey will still count. We hope you will complete the entire survey. Your opinion is important to us. Why does the survey ask for demographic information?
Demographic information helps us understand broad characteristics of the population and analyze data based on those characteristics. It is a best practice for surveys to ask demographic information. |
