City services survey

The city's Budget and Audit Board wants you, Lakewood residents, to provide your thoughts on the best ways to continue to support the important city services you receive. To get your input on this, the board has commissioned a survey that will be sent by text messages starting May 7 and has been extended through May 21, so please take the survey as soon as you receive it.

Why conduct a survey?

This is one of the best ways to gather in-depth information from residents, and it relies on a vendor with expertise in these kinds of surveys.

Similar to other city surveys, it includes a survey of randomly selected residents, which is the method used to ensure that survey results are statistically valid. Statistically valid results mean that they are accurate and reliable and are not based on chance or a flaw. It also allows robust conclusions to be drawn from the results.

There also is a link to the survey open for any resident to take (see below). The results from the statistically valid and open survey will be gathered separately.

English: Open city services survey

Spanish: Open city services survey

Why ask about city services?

One of Lakewood's biggest challenges is an issue that cities across Colorado face. The primary way of paying for the services important to residents is sales taxes paid by shoppers. The money from shoppers in recent years has not kept up with increasing costs such as gas for police cars, asphalt to pave city streets, insurance to protect the city’s recreation centers, or salaries to pay staff to provide city services every single day.

The sales tax collected from shoppers is flat and is projected to remain flat in the coming years. Shoppers are shopping less, but just like you’re finding with your budget at home, costs for city services are going up.

This challenge isn’t about government growth. This is about how we, as a community, pay for the services that you need and expect. The survey is designed to get your thoughts on the best ways to ensure sufficient funding to pay for city services.

What will the city do with the survey results?

It will help guide the Budget and Audit Board, which consists of three residents and three City Council members. The board serves as a financial oversight committee, reviews financial statements and budget forecasts, and provides feedback on budgetary issues.

Why conduct a survey?

This is one of the best ways to gather in-depth information from residents, and it relies on a vendor with expertise in these kinds of surveys.

There also is a link to the survey open for any resident to take (see below). The results from the statistically valid and open survey will be gathered separately.

English: Open city services survey

Spanish: Open city services survey

Why ask about city services?

What will the city do with the survey results?

Ask a question

Ask a question

Ask your question here, and city staff will respond within three business days. Questions and answers about this project can be visible to the public.

For general questions and concerns about the city, please visit LakewoodCO.gov/Request(External link), which is the city's online customer service hub available 24 hours a day.

Share Why did the survey include a section for why I would vote yes for the ballot measure but not a section for why I would vote no? on Facebook Share Why did the survey include a section for why I would vote yes for the ballot measure but not a section for why I would vote no? on Twitter Share Why did the survey include a section for why I would vote yes for the ballot measure but not a section for why I would vote no? on Linkedin Email Why did the survey include a section for why I would vote yes for the ballot measure but not a section for why I would vote no? link

Why did the survey include a section for why I would vote yes for the ballot measure but not a section for why I would vote no?

Matt’s asked 16 days ago

Good morning,

That question was determined by the answer given to the previous question. If you answered that you would "Definitely Vote Yes/Probably Vote Yes," you were then asked for your reasons why you would vote yes. And the same for those who answered "Definitely Vote No/Probably Vote No." So most likely you answered "Definitely Vote Yes/Probably Vote Yes," and therefore received the question asking why you would vote yes.

Thank you for taking part in this project!
Share Who are the council memebers on this committee? And who are the residence? Where do they live and how were they chosen for this task? Do we have a right to know? on Facebook Share Who are the council memebers on this committee? And who are the residence? Where do they live and how were they chosen for this task? Do we have a right to know? on Twitter Share Who are the council memebers on this committee? And who are the residence? Where do they live and how were they chosen for this task? Do we have a right to know? on Linkedin Email Who are the council memebers on this committee? And who are the residence? Where do they live and how were they chosen for this task? Do we have a right to know? link

Who are the council memebers on this committee? And who are the residence? Where do they live and how were they chosen for this task? Do we have a right to know?

Tom asked 16 days ago
Good morning,

Thank you for taking an interest in this project. As the link provided at the top of the project page shows, the Budget and Audit Board has a page on the city website that lists the resident members and Council representatives. The residents applied for positions on the board and were selected by a Council committee based on their experience in the relevant areas. For your convenience we have listed them below as well:
Citizen Members
- Lauren Sisneros
- Open
- Bobbie Wolfe
City Council Members
- Roger Low
- Jeslin Shahrezaei
- Isabel Cruz
Share Inflation has also diminished the citizens’ disposable income, compelling them to curtail their expenditures. Consequently, sales tax revenue remains stagnant. Why is Lakewood not considering reducing spending instead of requesting a tax increase? on Facebook Share Inflation has also diminished the citizens’ disposable income, compelling them to curtail their expenditures. Consequently, sales tax revenue remains stagnant. Why is Lakewood not considering reducing spending instead of requesting a tax increase? on Twitter Share Inflation has also diminished the citizens’ disposable income, compelling them to curtail their expenditures. Consequently, sales tax revenue remains stagnant. Why is Lakewood not considering reducing spending instead of requesting a tax increase? on Linkedin Email Inflation has also diminished the citizens’ disposable income, compelling them to curtail their expenditures. Consequently, sales tax revenue remains stagnant. Why is Lakewood not considering reducing spending instead of requesting a tax increase? link

Inflation has also diminished the citizens’ disposable income, compelling them to curtail their expenditures. Consequently, sales tax revenue remains stagnant. Why is Lakewood not considering reducing spending instead of requesting a tax increase?

JohnM asked 18 days ago

Thanks, John, for weighing on this project and letting us know your views on this. We hope you took the survey as well.
Kind regard,
The Project Team
Share Why are we considering a regressive sales tax instead of taxing things that negatively impact others or are rent seeking behaviors? Shouldn't we be using taxes to disincentivize behaviors that have a net negative impact on others society? For instance, I remember people having problems with gas stations and car washes opening up. If we taxed gasoline and car washes higher, we could disincentivize their use and construction by lower demand. A sales tax hurts lower income folks at a higher proportion than higher income folks, and we shouldn't be expanding regressive forms of taxation when there are other specific purchases that have a clear negative impact on our community. Ideally I'd like a Land Value Tax, but I know that isn't legal at this level of government. on Facebook Share Why are we considering a regressive sales tax instead of taxing things that negatively impact others or are rent seeking behaviors? Shouldn't we be using taxes to disincentivize behaviors that have a net negative impact on others society? For instance, I remember people having problems with gas stations and car washes opening up. If we taxed gasoline and car washes higher, we could disincentivize their use and construction by lower demand. A sales tax hurts lower income folks at a higher proportion than higher income folks, and we shouldn't be expanding regressive forms of taxation when there are other specific purchases that have a clear negative impact on our community. Ideally I'd like a Land Value Tax, but I know that isn't legal at this level of government. on Twitter Share Why are we considering a regressive sales tax instead of taxing things that negatively impact others or are rent seeking behaviors? Shouldn't we be using taxes to disincentivize behaviors that have a net negative impact on others society? For instance, I remember people having problems with gas stations and car washes opening up. If we taxed gasoline and car washes higher, we could disincentivize their use and construction by lower demand. A sales tax hurts lower income folks at a higher proportion than higher income folks, and we shouldn't be expanding regressive forms of taxation when there are other specific purchases that have a clear negative impact on our community. Ideally I'd like a Land Value Tax, but I know that isn't legal at this level of government. on Linkedin Email Why are we considering a regressive sales tax instead of taxing things that negatively impact others or are rent seeking behaviors? Shouldn't we be using taxes to disincentivize behaviors that have a net negative impact on others society? For instance, I remember people having problems with gas stations and car washes opening up. If we taxed gasoline and car washes higher, we could disincentivize their use and construction by lower demand. A sales tax hurts lower income folks at a higher proportion than higher income folks, and we shouldn't be expanding regressive forms of taxation when there are other specific purchases that have a clear negative impact on our community. Ideally I'd like a Land Value Tax, but I know that isn't legal at this level of government. link

Why are we considering a regressive sales tax instead of taxing things that negatively impact others or are rent seeking behaviors? Shouldn't we be using taxes to disincentivize behaviors that have a net negative impact on others society? For instance, I remember people having problems with gas stations and car washes opening up. If we taxed gasoline and car washes higher, we could disincentivize their use and construction by lower demand. A sales tax hurts lower income folks at a higher proportion than higher income folks, and we shouldn't be expanding regressive forms of taxation when there are other specific purchases that have a clear negative impact on our community. Ideally I'd like a Land Value Tax, but I know that isn't legal at this level of government.

zbholman asked 18 days ago

Thanks for participating in this project and submitting your thoughts on how the city should move forward. If you have, please be sure to take the survey at the link on the homepage of this project.
Kind regards,
The Project Team

Page last updated: 01 Jun 2026, 10:11 AM

City services survey

Ask a question

Why did the survey include a section for why I would vote yes for the ballot measure but not a section for why I would vote no?

Who are the council memebers on this committee? And who are the residence? Where do they live and how were they chosen for this task? Do we have a right to know?

Inflation has also diminished the citizens’ disposable income, compelling them to curtail their expenditures. Consequently, sales tax revenue remains stagnant. Why is Lakewood not considering reducing spending instead of requesting a tax increase?

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