Maintaining a rural lifestyle is the most important thing to El Dorado County residents who took a recent survey.

The county was seeking input on needs and priorities for economic development.

In one question people had to pick the following as being most important: rural lifestyle (320 votes), high level county services (306), keeping sales tax low (87) or not sure (36).

Other questions/answers:

Which three of the following aspects of economic development are most important to you, if any?  

· Good schools – 444

· Recreational options – 396

· Job opportunities – 340

· Affordable housing – 307

· Restaurant options – 206

· Retail shopping options – 149

· Easy parking – 82

· Other: – 77

· Tourist attractions – 54.

Which of the following things, if any, do you think are strengths of El Dorado County?

· Recreational options – 565

· Good schools – 358

· Tourist attractions – 345

· Restaurant options – 146

· Easy parking – 122

· Affordable housing – 75

· Other: – 62

· Retail shopping options – 59

· Job opportunities – 34.

Keeping in mind that about 24 percent of every property tax dollar goes to the county, what best describes your view on having additional housing development in El Dorado County to support improvements in the areas we just asked about? Do you strongly disapprove, disapprove, neutral, approve, strongly approve?

·      Approve –23.3 percent

·      Strongly disapprove – 20.6 percent

·      Neutral – 19.7 percent

·      Disapprove – 19.5 percent

·      Strongly approve – 12.4 percent

·      Not sure – 4.4 percent.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report