The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen (RDOS) is making progress in its effort to improve the customer experience of its citizens.
The Regional District conducted a survey to measure the satisfaction of citizens in the eight electoral areas in April of this year and released the results of the survey earlier today.
“A key success indicator for our organization is to improve the customer experience,” stated Mark Pendergraft, Chair of the Regional District. “We gather this information so the board can make informed decisions about where to best apply our resources in the future to make the biggest difference for our citizens.”
The Regional District surveys citizens in its electoral areas every second year.
A total of 400 residents were randomly selected to share their opinions and ideas about the Regional District as their local government with respect to quality of life, service satisfaction, environment, communications, information technology and fiscal responsibility.
Overall satisfaction ratings indicated 80 per cent of residents who live in the Regional District rate the quality of life in their community as excellent.
A total of 72 per cent rate it as an excellent place to raise children and 80 per cent rate the Regional District as an excellent place to retire. More than 62 per cent agree the Regional District is doing a good job overall.
A total of 60 per cent of our citizens believe they get good value for taxes paid and 70 per cent prefer that we offer the same level of service at the same level of taxation while eight per cent would prefer that we reduce the current level of service.
Asked whether they might support a tax increase, 16 per cent said they would support an increase for increased service.
Pendergraft said the survey results are an important part of the Regional District’s strategic plan.
“The Regional District Board and staff will use this feedback to guide the organization’s decision-making and financial planning processes,” said Pendergraft.
As a next step in the Citizen Survey process, the Regional District will now review the statistical and narrative results and determine areas that need to be addressed.
This information is used in the strategic planning and budgeting processes for the board.
In addition to the telephone Citizen Survey, an online Citizen Survey was conducted. The online survey was added as another way to determine the satisfaction of residents within the Regional District and to incorporate an accurate reading from all citizen demographics.
Just under 200 citizens were surveyed by online survey.
The complete report on the 2014 Citizen Survey is available for download from the Regional District website at www.rdos.bc.ca.
For further information, please contact Christy Malden, at (250) 492-0237 or [email protected].
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