This week Inweekly will publish its COVID-19 Ballsy plan.
Escambia County is sitting on $14.32 million and trying to figure out to spend it. The funds represent a quarter of the approximately $57 million the county will receive under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
We polled 739 Escambia voters on how the funds should be spent. Several Florida counties have already begun distributing dollars to households and small businesses. We found our residents want to see the same thing done here.
Households
Nearly three out of four want checks sent out to help families pay past due bills.
Would you support Escambia County providing up to $4,000 in relief, per household, that has been financially or medically impacted by COVID- 19, with proper documentation produced?
| Total | % | ||
| Yes | 552 | 74.7% | |
| No | 96 | 13.0% | |
| Undecided | 91 | 12.3% | |
| District | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Bergosh | Underhill | May | Bender | Barry | |
| Yes | 71.8% | 78.6% | 71.8% | 82.5% | 69.1% |
| No | 13.7% | 15.1% | 13.0% | 8.1% | 15.8% |
| Undecided | 14.5% | 6.3% | 15.3% | 9.4% | 15.1% |
Small Businesses
An even larger percentage want to see checks sent to small businesses most impacted by the pandemic. They would also like to see PPE kits available.
Do you think Escambia County should follow Orange County’s lead in providing $10,000 grants to small businesses who have had to shut down do to Covid-19?
| Total | % | ||
| Yes | 580 | 78.5% | |
| No | 83 | 11.2% | |
| Undecided | 76 | 10.3% |
| District | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Bergosh | Underhill | May | Bender | Barry | |
| Yes | 79.0% | 81.0% | 78.0% | 81.2% | 73.7% |
| No | 12.1% | 11.1% | 9.0% | 10.6% | 13.8% |
| Undecided | 8.9% | 7.9% | 13.0% | 8.1% | 12.5% |
Several Florida counties have bought and distributed face masks, sanitizers and other ppe to small businesses and residents, would you support cares act funding for that?
| Total | % | |
| Yes | 544 | 73.6% |
| No | 146 | 19.8% |
| Undecided | 49 | 6.7% |
| District | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Bergosh | Underhill | May | Bender | Barry | |
| Yes | 76.6% | 68.3% | 78.0% | 74.4% | 69.7% |
| No | 17.7% | 28.6% | 14.1% | 169.0% | 23.7% |
| Undecided | 5.6% | 3.2% | 7.9% | 8.8% | 6.6% |
County Services
They want more testing and better Wifi in community centers and libraries, but not too keen on infrared scanners
Several Florida counties are also using funds to increase testing, would you support the county following suit and doing this as well?
| Total | % | |
| Yes | 519 | 70.2% |
| No | 137 | 18.5% |
| Undecided | 83 | 11.2% |
| District | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Bergosh | Underhill | May | Bender | Barry | |
| Yes | 66.9% | 74.6% | 72.9% | 71.2% | 65.1% |
| No | 23.4% | 17.5% | 15.3% | 13.1% | 25.0% |
| Undecided | 9.7% | 7.9% | 11.9% | 15.6% | 9.9% |
Other counties are investing in improving Wi-Fi capability in community centers and public areas to enhance greater internet access for those who are going to school or running their business online. Do you support funding this?
| Total | % | |
| Yes | 442 | 59.8% |
| No | 205 | 27.7% |
| Undecided | 92 | 12.4% |
| District | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Bergosh | Underhill | May | Bender | Barry | |
| Yes | 64.5% | 60.3% | 62.7% | 63.1% | 48.7% |
| No | 25.8% | 27.8% | 22.0% | 26.9% | 36.8% |
| Undecided | 9.7% | 11.9% | 15.3% | 10.0% | 14.5% |
Other counties are buying infrared temp scanners for government building, would you support CARES Act funding for that?
| Total | % | ||
| Yes | 262 | 35.5% | |
| No | 308 | 41.7% | |
| Undecided | 169 | 22.9% |
| District | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Bergosh | Underhill | May | Bender | Barry | |
| Yes | 32.3% | 38.1% | 41.8% | 35.0% | 28.9% |
| No | 41.1% | 42.1% | 39.0% | 39.4% | 47.4% |
| Undecided | 26.6% | 19.8% | 19.2% | 25.6% | 23.7% |
METHODOLOGY:
The voters called were those only with landlines and were called using an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system during the hours of 6PM to 8PM on July 10. The Margin of Error for this study is +/- 4.5% with a confidence level of 95%.