Online survey asks Ann Arbor residents for feedback on city budget

Council Member Sabra Briere, D-1st Ward, is asking residents for help determine where the community's priorities lie for city spending.

Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

Briere has set up a brief online survey at Zoomerang.com that asks residents to weigh in on budget-trimming measures, ranging from closing fire stations and reducing police patrols to selling the farmer's market, airport and parks. The survey also seeks to gauge the community's feelings about raising taxes and asking employees to take cuts in pay and benefits.

All of those ideas have been floated recently as city leaders work toward closing an additional $5.2 million gap in the city's general fund budget for the fiscal year starting July 1.

"Last year at budget time, I sent out a survey on the budget," Briere wrote in an e-mail to residents. "I learned a lot from the responses, but I also learned that not everyone could use my self-made survey form. This year I've gone more high-tech. I hope you will help me with budget priorities by responding to this survey. There are no questions that can identify you, so please be as candid as you choose."

The survey is open until 11 p.m. Saturday. To take the survey, click here.

Briere acknowledges the survey isn't perfect and isn't intended to be scientific. But she says it will provide her with feedback on the budget priorities of city residents. She said she plans to take the results to the city's next budget session on Monday.

"I'm learning a lot about YOUR priorities for the city's budget. Your priorities really help me set mine," Briere wrote in an e-mail to residents this week.

Ryan J. Stanton covers government for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.