City of Gunnison 2022 Road Funding Ballot Measure Survey

Magellan Strategies is pleased to present the topline results of a live telephone and online survey of 501 registered voters in the City of Gunnison, Colorado. The interviews were conducted from June 30th to July 12th, 2022.

Voters in the City of Gunnison generally viewed the condition of local streets as acceptable but not without issues. While a majority rated the streets in their neighborhood as good or excellent, a substantial share rated them as fair or poor, indicating room for improvement. Opinions were divided on whether the City had sufficient financial resources to maintain and improve streets, though a slight majority believed resources were adequate. At the same time, strong majorities viewed the City as fiscally responsible and believed it spent taxpayer money wisely.

Despite relatively positive perceptions of fiscal management, voters initially expressed resistance to a tax increase for street funding. In general terms, more voters opposed than supported a sales tax increase to create a dedicated funding source. When presented with a specific proposal for a 0.5% sales tax increase to generate $1.2 million annually for street maintenance, initial support remained below a majority, with a clear majority indicating they would vote against the measure.

However, support shifted as voters received more detailed information about the City’s funding gap and infrastructure needs. Information explaining that the City needed $2.3 million annually to properly maintain streets but only had about $1.1 million available made a majority more likely to support the measure. Similarly, learning that street conditions would deteriorate over time without additional funding increased support, indicating that voters responded to clear explanations of need and consequences.

Additional technical information about pavement conditions and long-term maintenance needs further increased support. As shown in the chart on page 4, the City’s Pavement Condition Index was in line with national averages, but projections indicated that the backlog of streets in poor condition would grow significantly without additional investment. This information led a majority of voters to say they were more likely to support the measure, reinforcing the importance of long-term planning and preventative maintenance.

Messaging around cost efficiency and strategic planning also resonated strongly. A large majority said they were more likely to support the measure after learning that a consistent pavement management system would be significantly more cost-effective than a reactive approach, as illustrated in the diagram on page 5. Additionally, information explaining that existing discretionary funds could be redirected to other city services if the measure passed increased support, highlighting the perceived trade-offs and broader community benefits.

Cost pressures and inflation-related messaging also influenced opinions. Learning that construction and maintenance costs had increased dramatically over time and that existing revenues had not kept pace made a majority more likely to support the measure. These arguments reinforced the need for a stable, dedicated funding source and helped shift perceptions among initially skeptical voters.

In the final informed ballot test, support for the 0.5% sales tax increased to a clear majority, with more voters indicating they would approve than reject the measure. Overall, the survey showed that while voters were initially resistant to a tax increase, support could be built through detailed information about funding gaps, long-term cost savings, infrastructure conditions, and the broader benefits of dedicated funding for street maintenance.