Local Government Priorities Survey

This survey should take approximately 3–5 minutes to complete. There are no right or wrong answers - we're interested in your experience and perspective as an elected member.

Individual responses will remain confidential. Results may be published in aggregate, including the percentage of respondents selecting each response. You may skip any question you do not wish to answer.

Your details stay private. We ask for your name, email and council only so we know who has responded. We will never share, sell or publish your details, and they will never be linked to your answers in anything we publish.

Name

Email Address

Phone Number

Which council do you represent?

How long have you served as an elected member of local government?

Does your council have wards?

Yes No

If applicable, which ward do you represent?

1. How concerned are you about the financial sustainability of South Australian local government over the next five to ten years?

2. How much influence do you believe elected members have over the financial sustainability of their council?

3. How confident do you feel in your ability to understand and scrutinise your council’s financial position, budget and long-term financial plans?

4. Do you believe councillors receive sufficient financial information, advice and training to effectively oversee council expenditure and financial performance?

Yes Mostly No Unsure

5. When a council faces a persistent operating deficit, which approach should generally receive the greatest priority?

5. Other (please specify)

6. Other (please specify)

7. How important should limiting increases in rates be when councils are considering their annual budgets?

8. If your council needed to close a significant budget gap, which approach would you generally favour?

9. How confident are you that your council currently provides good value for money to ratepayers?

10. How effectively does your council review existing services and programs to determine whether they continue to provide sufficient community benefit relative to their cost?

11. Other (please specify)

12. How willing do you believe elected members generally are to make difficult decisions that may be unpopular in the short term but improve their council’s long-term financial position?

13. To what extent do you believe political considerations influence financial and policy decisions in your council?

14. If a council’s financial position deteriorated significantly over several years, which actions should the elected council consider in relation to the CEO’s performance? Select all that apply.

Increased performance monitoring Additional financial support or expertise Specific financial performance objectives Independent assessment of financial performance Review of the CEO’s performance agreement Review of the council’s financial strategy Consideration of CEO replacement Other Unsure

14. Other (please specify)

15. Other (please specify)

16. What do you believe is the single biggest financial or governance challenge facing your council over the next five years?

17. Is there anything you believe Candidate Ready should be thinking about that we haven’t covered in this survey? (optional)

COUNCILLOR SURVEY

South Australian Local Government Priorities Survey