PHOENIX — A survey out the San Francisco Controller's office released this week found residents to be reasonably satisfied with its infrastructure and public services in advance of major investments and a large bond proposal going before voters this year.
The controller's 2015 City Survey Report, released Thursday, is the latest in a series of biennial reports the city has produced since 1996. It measures the satisfaction of the city's denizens with various aspects of city service, including its public infrastructure and other bond-financed structures such as libraries. Residents graded the infrastructure as a B on a traditional grading scale, libraries at a B+, and parks and recreation at a B.
"The purpose of the survey is to objectively address residents' use and satisfaction with various city services, and to help determine community priorities as part of San Francisco's ongoing planning process," the report said.
"The Controller's City Survey Report shows that our city's investments are helping to improve the lives of our residents," San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee said in a statement. "City government has an obligation to make the lives of all of its residents better, and we are using this unique time of prosperity to ensure all San Franciscans benefit with increased city services."
The survey came out days after Lee signed a two-year budget for the city that includes big public works spending and a proposal for the city's biggest-ever housing bond. Housing affordability is one of San Francisco's biggest social issues, and housing there is among the most expensive in the entire U.S. Lee and the Board of Supervisors sent a $310 million affordable housing general obligation bond measure to the voters for November.
The $310 million affordable housing bond would not raise property taxes, the mayor's office said in a statement that calls it "a crucial component" of the mayor's $1.1 billion 5-year affordable housing response plan to build, rehabilitate and preserve 30,000 homes by 2020.
The budget also includes $50 million in additional new funding to expedite affordable housing projects.
The budget includes sizable amounts for transportation improvements, including surface repaving, but is aimed at shoring up the city's reserve funds in an effort to protect it from a possible economic downturn.
"San Francisco is fortunate to have a thriving economy and unprecedented civic resources," said Board of Supervisors President London Breed. "And with this year's budget we have put those resources to use, investing in a better transportation system, increased public safety, and more affordable housing — all while placing millions in reserve so we can maintain these investments if and when the economy turns the other way."
