Poll: Omahans ‘disgruntled'

Omahans are not happy campers.

A majority say the city is headed in the wrong direction and that Mayor Jim Suttle isn't getting the job done, according to a survey of 400 registered voters commissioned by an Omaha landlord association.

Voters surveyed also disapproved of Suttle's proposed tax hikes and his handling of the police and fire contracts.

“They're very disgruntled,” said John C. Chatelain, an Omaha attorney and president of the Metropolitan Omaha Property Owners Association, which represents about 500 managers and owners of rental homes and apartments.

The group opposes Suttle's proposed property tax hike.

Suttle took office in June 2009. He declined to comment on the poll, indicating that he is taking a long-range view of the city's budget issues.

“A poll is a snapshot in time,” said Ron Gerard, a spokesman for the mayor.

The survey was conducted by the MSR Group, an Omaha-based company. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.

It was conducted by telephone Aug. 2 through 4, shortly after Suttle announced his proposed tax hikes to balance the budget.

Seventy percent of those surveyed said they think the city has “gotten off on the wrong track,” while only 19 percent said the city was headed in the right direction. Eleven percent were undecided.

Sixty-seven percent disapproved of Suttle's job performance, while 23 percent approved. Ten percent were undecided.

While voters were not happy with Suttle, 52 percent approved of the way the City Council had performed, 28 percent disapproved and 20 percent were undecided.

Chatelain said he thought one factor in voters' support for the City Council may have been its decision to vote down the police contract.

Sixty-two percent disapproved of Suttle's handling of the police and fire contracts, while only 23 percent approved. Fifteen percent were undecided.

The poll also included questions on two tax proposals put forth by Suttle to balance the budget.

The city faces a projected $33.5 million revenue shortfall next year.

Suttle's budget calls for three tax increases — a new 4 percent tax on restaurant and bar tabs, a higher city property tax rate and a wheel tax hike.

Not surprisingly, the majority in the poll disapproved of both the property tax increases and the restaurant tax hike.

Eighty-eight percent were against the property tax increase, while 78 percent disapproved of the tax on restaurants, bars and catering companies.

The poll did not ask voters what services, if any, they would cut in lieu of tax hikes.

“What we've heard repeatedly is citizens want to maintain basic city services and our quality of life. And, unfortunately, there has to be a way to pay for this,” said Gerard.

Contact the writer:

444-1309, robynn.tysver@owh.com

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