City services survey

The city's Budget and Audit Board wants you, Lakewood residents, to provide your thoughts on the best ways to continue to support the important city services you receive. To get your input on this, the board has commissioned a survey that will be sent by text messages starting May 7 and will close on May 17.

Why conduct a survey?

This is one of the best ways to gather in-depth information from residents, and it relies on a vendor with expertise in these kinds of surveys.

Similar to other city surveys, it includes a survey of randomly selected residents, which is the method used to ensure that survey results are statistically valid. Statistically valid results mean that they are accurate and reliable and are not based on chance or a flaw. It also allows robust conclusions to be drawn from the results.

There also is a link to the survey open for any resident to take (see below). The results from the statistically valid and open survey will be gathered separately.

English: Open city services survey

Spanish: Open city services survey

Why ask about city services?

One of Lakewood's biggest challenges is an issue that cities across Colorado face. The primary way of paying for the services important to residents is sales taxes paid by shoppers. The money from shoppers in recent years has not kept up with increasing costs such as gas for police cars, asphalt to pave city streets, insurance to protect the city’s recreation centers, or salaries to pay staff to provide city services every single day.

The sales tax collected from shoppers is flat and is projected to remain flat in the coming years. Shoppers are shopping less, but just like you’re finding with your budget at home, costs for city services are going up.

This challenge isn’t about government growth. This is about how we, as a community, pay for the services that you need and expect. The survey is designed to get your thoughts on the best ways to ensure sufficient funding to pay for city services.

What will the city do with the survey results?

It will help guide the Budget and Audit Board, which consists of three residents and three City Council members. The board serves as a financial oversight committee, reviews financial statements and budget forecasts, and provides feedback on budgetary issues.