Prince William County residents say their quality of life is the highest it has been since the county’s annual citizen survey began in 1993.
On a scale from one to 10, with 10 representing the best community in which to live, the average rating has climbed from 6.90 in 1993 to 7.30 this year, up from 6.98 last year.
“It is surprising because of the poor economy” and because the county had to cut back on services to deal with last year’s budget, said Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart, R-at large. “Of course, it’s a delightful surprise and of course we’re very proud that the quality of life was rated so high.”
Researchers polled 1,746 randomly selected county residents from May 11 to June 24. The University of Virginia has conducted the survey each year since 1993.
Stewart noted that satisfaction with the county’s growth rate has risen and that residents feel safer, pointing out a 38 percent drop in violent crime from last year.
Indeed, with the downturn in housing and the economy, satisfaction with growth and development has risen to new highs — areas of low satisfaction previously — as has approval of neighborhood appearance, the report said.
This year’s survey also showed a rebound in Hispanic and black perceptions of the police, after those ratings dropped in 2008.
In 2009, 85.5 percent of Hispanics and 93.6 percent of blacks were satisfied with overall police performance, compared with 72.8 percent of Hispanics and 85.1 percent of blacks last year.
Hispanics’ views of the police department’s implementation of the county’s illegal immigration enforcement policy also improved. This year, 70.5 percent of Hispanics were satisfied with the department’s implementation of the policy, compared with 51 percent who were satisfied last year.
