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The following survey was used to gather information about life in communities across America, including those in the Kansas City area, in preparation for the Metro Outlook Live report.

Feel free to take it and see how your responses compare to the regional data as well as the responses from this online version of the survey.

We'd like to start by asking about how you are generally doing. The following factors are believed to be important to a person's overall quality of life:

A. Ability to influence community decisions
B. Arts and cultural amenities
C. Clean air and water, the environment
D. Decent, affordable housing
E. Diversity of experiences
F. Diversity of people
G. Education
H. Entertainment
I. Family and friends
J. Good, healthy food
K. Mental health, ability to think clearly
L. Mobility, being able to get around
 M. Money
N. Morals and ethics
O. Nature
P. Neighborhood attractiveness
Q. Physical health
R. Religion and spirituality
S. Safety and security
T. Self-esteem
U. Sense of community, belonging
V. Sports and recreation
W. Weather, climate
X. Work, employment, job satisfaction
1. Which FIVE of the factors listed above are most important to your quality of life? (please rank using letters above)
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
2. To increase your quality of life, which THREE of the factors listed above would you most like to improve? (please rank using letters from above)
1st
2nd
3rd
3. So far as you and your family are concerned, how satisfied are you with the following?

Very Satisfied Somewhat Satisfied Neutral Somewhat Dissatisfied Very Dissatisfied Don't Know
Your present overall quality of life
Your present financial condition
4. Overall, would you say these are headed in the right or wrong direction?

Right direction Wrong direction
Your overall quality of life
Your financial condition
5. Please rate the Kansas City region with respect to the following:

Excellent Good Neutral Below Average Poor Don't Know
As a place to live
As a place to raise children
As a place to work
As a place to retire

6. Next, we'd like you to think about what makes a great place to live.

How would you rate the performance of your community in dealing with each of the issues below?

Excellent Good Fair Poor Don't Know
A. Job and income growth
B. Life science-based economic development
C. Energy efficiency - electricity and gasoline
D. Protecting the natural environment
E. Public school funding/quality (K-12)
F. Cost/quality of early learning programs (pre-K)
G. Crime
H. Terrorism
I. Dealing with natural disasters like floods, tornadoes, winter storms and wild fires
J. Race relations, racial inequality
K. Housing affordability
L. Choice of housing styles and prices
M. Traffic congestion
N. Road maintenance
O. Traffic safety
P. Ability of individuals to influence public decisions
Q. Health care quality and access
R. Downtown redevelopment
S. Quality and availability of public transportation - buses or rail
T. Poverty
U. Availability of housing for low-income residents
V. Higher education quality/research capacity
W. Sprawl
X. Quality of arts and cultural amenities
Y. Quality of sports facilities

How would you rate the performance of the whole Kansas City metropolitan area in dealing with each of the issues below?
Excellent Good Fair Poor Don't Know
A. Job and income growth
B. Life science-based economic development
C. Energy efficiency - electricity and gasoline
D. Protecting the natural environment
E. Public school funding/quality (K-12)
F. Cost/quality of early learning programs (pre-K)
G. Crime
H. Terrorism
I. Dealing with natural disasters like floods, tornadoes, winter storms and wild fires
J. Race relations, racial inequality
K. Housing affordability
L. Choice of housing styles and prices
M. Traffic congestion
N. Road maintenance
O. Traffic safety
P. Ability of individuals to influence public decisions
Q. Health care quality and access
R. Downtown redevelopment
S. Quality and availability of public transportation - buses or rail
T. Poverty
U. Availability of housing for low-income residents
V. Higher education quality/research capacity
W. Sprawl
X. Quality of arts and cultural amenities
Y. Quality of sports facilities

7. In order to improve the overall quality of life in both your community and the whole Kansas City metropolitan area, which THREE of the issues listed in question six do you think should receive the most attention from local and regional leaders over the next five years? (use letters from above)

Top priorities in your community:
1st
2nd
3rd
Top priorities for the Kansas City REGION:
1st
2nd
3rd
8. Thinking only about your FIRST priority selected above for the Kansas City REGION, how supportive would you be of having local governments in the Kansas City area work together to address it?
9. How willing would you be to have a portion of your local taxes pooled with other communities in the Kansas City region to address your FIRST regional priority?
10. How willing would you be to raise taxes (such as a ½ cent sales tax) to address your FIRST regional priority?
11. Overall, would you say the Kansas City region is headed in the right or wrong direction?

12. Please indicate how satisfied you are with the following?
Very Satisfied Somewhat Satisfied Neutral Somewhat Dissatisfied Very Dissatisfied Don't Know
Overall image of the Kansas City region
Overall quality of local government services in the community where you live
13. Next, we'd like to ask you some questions about how you view people. Generally speaking, would you say that most people can be trusted or that you can't be too careful in dealing with people?

14. For each of the following groups below, how much of the time do you think you can trust them to do what is right?

Just about alwaysMost of the timeSome of the timeHardly everDon't know
A. My city government
B. The governments of neighboring cities
C. The government of the region's central city
D. My county government
E. The governments of neighboring counties
F. The region's local governments working together
G. My state government
H. The governments of neighboring states
I. The national government
J. Businesses
K. Business associations, like chambers of commerce
L. Economic development agencies
M. My place of worship
N. Other places of worship
O. Foundations
P. Charities
Q. Social service agencies
R. Schools
S. Citizen groups
T. Neighborhood associations
U. Advocacy groups

15. Approximately how many times during the past 12 months have you:
None Once 2-4 times 5-9 times Once a month Twice a month Once a week
Attended religious services
Worked on a community project
Donated blood
Attended any public meeting in which there was discussion of town or school affairs
Attended any club or organizational meeting (not including meetings for work)
Had friends over to your home
Visited the home of a friend of a different race or had them in your home
Visited the home of someone living in a different neighborhood or had them to your home
Visited the home of someone you consider to be a community leader or had one in your home
Volunteered
Taken a leadership role or held office in an organization

16. What do you think is unique or special about the Kansas City region that makes it a good place to live?
List up to THREE things that you are proud of and would give as reasons for someone to move to the Kansas City area.
a.
b.
c.
17. How many years have you lived in the Kansas City area?
18. How many years have you lived in your current home?
19. Your gender:
20. What is your age?
21. Which of the following best describes your race/ethnicity? (check all that apply)
22. Are you or other members of your household of Hispanic, Latino, or other Spanish ancestry?
23. Do you own or rent your home?
24. Are you presently...
25. How many years of education have you completed?

26. How many members of your household (including yourself) are in the following age groups?

Under age 6
Ages 6-12
Ages 13-18
Ages 19-24
Ages 25-34
Ages 35-44
Ages 45-54
Ages 55-64
Ages 65-74
Ages 75+

27. In which of the following ranges does your total annual household income fall?

Hit your "Back" button to return to the
MetroOutlook LIVE website after submitting.

Please note that this survey is not collecting data for Metro Outlook. That data is collected via a detailed and scientific survey process that requires random sampling and other techniques.

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