Presentation

City of Mesa — City Council Strategic Planning Session (2026-02-19)

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Confidential Trade Secret
1
City of Mesa Public Opinion Research
Likely Voters
March 3-6, 2025
September 22-25, 2025
* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding

Confidential Trade Secret
Specializing in strategic messaging surveys to 
gather a broad spectrum of public opinion 
including perception of the client, awareness of 
their challenges, public priorities, views on broad 
and specific issues, vulnerabilities, and 
argumentation.
Five-time winner of “Best Polling Firm” by the 
Arizona Capitol Times
Goal:  Accurate, impartial results
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About HighGround Inc.

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Survey Methodology
The N=500 scientific surveys were conducted among high efficacy voters who have a 
history of electoral participation in the City of Mesa.  Individuals were randomly 
selected to reflect quotas for likely participation in local elections.  
The poll was weighted to model the likely turnout of voters across party, age, region, 
and gender. 
The live interview surveys of voters was conducted to both landline and cell phone 
users.  The margin of error for both surveys is ±4.3% with a 95% confidence interval.
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Confidential Trade Secret
Likely Voters
Age Group: 
14.0% 
29 and under 
18.0% 
30 to 39
18.0% 
40 to 49
23.8% 
50 to 64
26.2% 
65 Plus 
Sex: 
48.0% 
Male 
52.0% 
Female
 
 
Area:
16.0% 
District 1
17.0% 
District 2
14.0% 
District 3
10.0% 
District 4
22.0% 
District 5
21.0% 
District 6
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Demographics
Do you have children under 18 living at
home with you?
31.2% 
Yes
67.0% 
No
1.8% 
Refused
Ideology
21.2% 
Very Conservative
16.2% 
Somewhat Conservative
33.0% 
Moderate
10.2% 
Somewhat Liberal
10.2% 
Very Liberal
4.6% 
Don't Know 
4.6% 
Refused

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In general, would you say that the City of Mesa is heading in the right 
direction, or the wrong direction? 
16.0% 
Definitely right direction
46.2% 
Probably right direction
9.8% 
Probably wrong direction
5.4% 
Definitely wrong direction
22.6% 
Don’t Know, Refused
29 and Under:  
70.0% right direction
30-39: 
 
61.1% right direction
40-49: 
 
57.8% right direction
50-64: 
 
59.7% right direction
65+:  
 
64.1% right direction
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62.2% 
Total Right
15.2% 
Total Wrong
22.6% 
DK, Refused
March 2025
59.0% 
Total Right
18.8% 
Total Wrong

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What do you consider to be the top issue facing the City of Mesa today? 
29.8% Housing prices
17.8% Inflation and high prices
15.6% Homelessness
12.0% Traffic and congestion
8.8% Public Safety
8.6% Controlling city spending
3.2% Other 
4.0% Don’t Know 
0.2% Refused
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<29: 
41.4% Housing prices
30-39: 
40.0% Housing prices
40-49: 
38.9% Housing prices
50-64: 
22.7% Housing prices
65+: 
19.8% Inflation and High Prices
March 2025
32.0% 
Housing prices
20.8% 
Inflation and high prices
12.8% 
Traffic and congestion
12.6% 
Homelessness

Confidential Trade Secret
How would you rate the Mayor and City Council’s overall job 
performance in the City of Mesa?
3.2% Excellent 
 
 
 
 
24.2% Very Good
44.8% Ok
7.0% Poor
2.8% Failing
16.4% Undecided
1.6% Refused
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<29: 
24.3% excellent/very good
30-39: 
27.8% excellent/very good
40-49: 
24.4% excellent/very good
50-64: 
27.7% excellent/very good
65+: 
30.5% excellent/very good
March 2025
3.0% 
Excellent
20.4% 
Very Good
47.0% 
Ok
8.0% 
Poor
5.4% 
Failing

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Rating Municipal Services
 
 
 
 
Mean  
Excellent/Very Good
Fire and Medical 
 
 
4.08 
 
59.2%
Libraries 
 
 
 
3.90 
 
76.4%
Museums 
 
 
 
3.74 
 
59.0%
Parks  
 
 
 
3.69 
 
38.8%
Police  
 
 
 
3.66 
 
62.8%
Recreation programs  
 
3.57 
 
44.4%
Open space and trails  
 
3.53 
 
40.6%
Streets and transportation 
 
3.22 
 
47.8%
Utilities 
 
 
 
3.22 
 
51.0%
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Confidential Trade Secret
In general, would you say that amount of taxes you pay to the City of 
Mesa are:
10
Too Low, 
3.8%
Just About Right, 
56.0%
Too High, 
35.8%
Don’t 
know/Refused , 
4.4%
Too Low
Just 
Right
Too High
Under 29
5.7%
61.4%
27.1%
30 - 39
2.2%
65.6%
28.9%
40 - 49
6.7%
56.7%
32.2%
50 - 64
3.4%
46.2%
46.2%
65+
2.3%
55.0%
38.2%
District 1
2.5%
58.8%
33.8%
District 2
5.9%
57.6%
29.4%
District 3
2.9%
62.9%
31.4%
District 4
6.0%
56.0%
34.0%
District 5
4.5%
54.5%
38.2%
District 6
1.9%
49.5%
43.8%
March 2025
2.6% 
Too low
53.0% 
Just about right
39.4% 
Too high

Confidential Trade Secret
Definitely Yes, 
13.2%
Probably Yes, 
24.6%
Probably No, 
9.0%
Definitely No, 
4.8%
Don't Know, 
48.4%
Refused, 0.0%
March 2025
54.0% 
Yes
11.4% 
No
34.0% 
Don’t know
11
Arizona allows cities to impose a primary property tax to fund general 
city services.  To the best of your knowledge, does the City of Mesa 
currently impose this tax on its residents?
Total:  37.8% Yes
 
13.8% No
Yes
No
Under 29
35.7%
18.6%
30 - 39
32.2%
12.2%
40 - 49
44.4%
13.3%
50 - 64
41.2%
10.9%
65+
35.1%
15.3%
District 1
40.0%
12.5%
District 2
37.6%
11.8%
District 3
37.1%
15.7%
District 4
32.0%
18.0%
District 5
31.8%
12.7%
District 6
45.7%
14.3%

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Policy Priorities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mean
Ensuring government transparency 
 
 
 
 
4.62
Reducing crime 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.45
Supporting community health and safety 
 
 
 
4.43
Conserving water  
 
 
 
 
 
4.43
Attracting and retaining high-quality jobs 
 
 
 
4.42
Protecting taxpayers 
 
 
 
 
 
4.37
Addressing homelessness 
 
 
 
 
 
4.33
Promoting sustainability 
 
 
 
 
 
4.09
Fostering robust workforce training and development 
 
 
3.92
Investing in vibrant and attractive neighborhoods 
 
 
3.61
Attracting high-quality retail and restaurants 
 
 
 
3.54
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Importance

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How do you prefer to receive information about City of Mesa services, 
projects, and decisions? 
39.0% 
Email newsletter
24.8% 
Social media
24.2% 
Letters or postcards
15.4% 
Television news
14.8% 
Online Publication
13.6% 
Flyers
7.4% 
Newspaper
6.2% 
Radio
3.2% 
Mesa’s Channel 11
4.4% 
Don't Know 
2.8% 
Refused
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Confidential Trade Secret
Questions?