“Our project was looking to explore best practices in passing city levies to keep essential city services in place at a time when cutbacks are the norm,” the 30-year-old said of his survey, part of a capstone project. “We’re not saying cutbacks aren’t good in some cases — I think they are — but you can only cut police, fire and street (repairs) back so far until you get to a spot where you haven’t repaired a street in five or six years and it almost becomes a budget buster to do it.”
Ultimately, he said he found overwhelming support for city services. As with a city assessment administered in 2008, the residents he spoke to by telephone marked a high rate of satisfaction with Franklin’s fire and police departments, parks and streets.
“They do not want to lose them,” Odenweller said.
Fire Chief Jonathan Westendorf said while he has yet to see the survey’s results, the feedback sends a positive message.
“I’m pretty proud of that,” he said. “Hopefully that translates into a level of confidence and trust that is truly needed to take the time on Tuesday to show up and vote.”
A succinct, clear message is key to mobilize voters, Odenweller said. He found some had muddled information. For example, some didn’t realize the city and school district had separate budgets.
Odenweller and a project partner attempted to contact more than 300 of the approximately 3,000 who voted in the November election.
Feedback numbers were well below the intended target — they spoke with about 200 voters — but the two calculated roughly 60 percent of respondents favored Tuesday’s levy. The remainder was evenly split between “no” votes and those who were undecided, Odenweller said.
“It looks to be a neck and neck race,” he said. “A lot of people on a telephone survey will say yes... then they’ll make their minds up.”
Surveys were conducted April 15, 16 and 21.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2871 or asedlak@coxohio.com.
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