On a scale from 0 to 10 with 0 meaning not a priority at all and 10 meaning a top priority, residents evaluated the importance they felt should be placed on a variety of issues that impact their community. The topics ranged from the economy to the public schools, health care to taxes, and a variety of community services.
Greene County residents are intensely concerned about an array of issues. Only one-tenth of a point separates the average score for their five most important priorities. At the top of the list are keeping businesses in the area, improving the quality of public schools, and making health care more affordable. Each priority receives an average score of 7.6.
Of the seven counties in the region, Greene County is the most concerned about issues which affect children. Not only is public education a leading priority in the county, but Greene County is the only county where providing more after-school activities ranks among residents’ top five priorities.
There have been several changes since 2002 in how Greene County residents rank priorities for their community. Only three of their top five goals today were among the leading issues for county residents five years ago. The number four issue in 2002, providing services for senior citizens, has dropped to eighth place now.
Creating jobs, which was fifth among priorities for Greene County residents five years ago, is now seventh. However, it is important to note that while their rank has fallen, the scores for these two priorities have not substantially lowered since 2002.
The issues of reducing taxes and improving after-school activities for children and teenagers are now in the top five. These two priorities currently rank fourth and fifth, respectively.
