4/26/14 - Brighton residents queried in a recent online city survey rate their streets no better than "fair", but three-quarters of them say they don't want to pay a tax assessment for improvements to their own street. Some 208 citizens responded to the survey, which city officials regard as very good, considering that it was conducted online. However, the survey questions could also be picked up at city hall and taken home to fill out. In the questionnaire, residents were asked six questions pertaining to the condition of city streets and sidewalks and possible ways to pay for projects to repair and make improvements. Citizens were also asked to prioritize potential future city projects - not just street upgrades but addressing city sidewalks, city maintenance equipment, city-owned buildings, cemeteries, Mill Pond Park and other city parks. They said "no" to additional taxes, however, an overwhelming 77% saying emphatically they would not want to participate in a special assessment district to pay for improvements to their own street. As to any potential street improvement projects, the results were evenly split between those who would like them undertaken soon, using the city's bonding authority to finance them, and those who prefer the streets be done incrementally on a pay-as-you-go basis. Overall, 46% of the respondents regard Brighton streets as "fair", 31% rate them as "good", 17% rate them "poor" and 5% say they are in "failing" condition. Only 1% regard local streets as being in "excellent" condition. Some 35% rate the streets in their own neighborhood as "good" and an equal percentage say they are "fair", while 16% rate them as "poor" and 9% say they are "failing". Foster says the survey results will be helpful to city officials as they weigh future decisions regarding the city's streets and sidewalks, and the rest of the city's infrastructure. The survey results can be viewed on the city's website - brightoncity.org - under "city news and notices." (TT)
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