Isla Vista to test resident appetite for taxes, cityhood, parking and services in new survey

The committee approved a draft resident survey to test service priorities and specific price levels as part of early planning for potential revenue and bond options.

Presenter described a multi‑part survey that asks residents whether Isla Vista is meeting strategic goals (safety, cleanliness, connectedness, efficient government) and then drills into program‑level options — library services (a "library of things" and textbook rentals), appliance rental, permit parking, unarmed/non‑police response, Soltopia, community‑center improvements and mobility projects. The Presenter said the survey will also test several per‑person price tiers for a potential local tax and will include demographic and outreach questions.

The nut‑graf: the committee will use the survey to gauge public support and price tolerance for a potential ballot measure. Presenter gave examples of price tiers and associated revenue: a $25 per‑person tier corresponds to roughly $400,000 annually, a $50 tier about $750,000, and a $100 tier would roughly double the current budget; staff also noted a $1.5 million target translates to about $8–$10 per person using 15,000 residents as the denominator.

Members discussed which items should be listed, how much detail to include, and whether to add educational context about the district's current powers and programs to the survey. Committee members asked whether non‑residents should be able to fill the survey; staff said yes but the form will include an initial residency question so results can be categorized. The group also discussed coordinating timeline and language with an external Measure O effort that may appear on the November ballot.

Next steps: staff will field the survey (tabling at housing fairs, newsletter and digital channels), host a town hall (May 27, 5:30–7:30 p.m.) to discuss results and then return to the finance committee at a late‑May meeting to review the findings and recommend next steps.