As a current or past member of Truckee Meadows Tomorrow (TMT) you know that we provide comprehensive, unbiased data about the Truckee Meadows that individuals, businesses and governmental entities use to help achieve their goals. We are writing to let you know that Truckee Meadows Tomorrow is still working hard to fill that valuable role of providing a community voice for citizens and key stakeholders.
With the current economic climate the Community-wide Survey has not been conducted, but our research into community quality of life indicators continues and shows both positive and negative movement, in several quality of life indicators: A snap shot of our community from Quality of Life indicators is below:
For Families in the Truckee Meadows some “things” cost less
- The cost of living relative to other cities has declined from 107.9 in 2006 to 98.3 in 2011, although food and transportation are rising in 2012.
- The housing opportunity index has risen with falling housing prices, from 17.3 in 2006 to 82.5 in 2011, making housing more affordable.
- Average monthly rent and utility costs have remained the same, at $873 in 2007 and 2010.
But families have less to make ends meet
- The percentage of families with income below poverty has risen from 6.5% in 2006 to 10.8% in 2010; and the percentage of our population without health insurance has risen from 17.4% to 22.3% for the same period.
- Median family income has fallen from $66,335 in 2006 to $61,119 in 2010.
- The percentage of people paying over 30% of their income for rent and utilities has risen from 38% in 2006 to 45% in 2010 for owners and room 44% to 54% for renters. This reflects the impact of falling income and unemployment, even though housing costs have remained constant or declined.
While the economy stabilizes
- Employment-to-labor force population ratio of 0.88, as of March 2012, has improved to 2009 levels.
- The number of building permits rose in 2011 for Reno and Washoe County, while the valuation rose for all three local entities.
- Washoe County Crime Index rates continue to trend downward, well below Nevada, the western states, and national rate.
- Citizens are increasingly unengaged.
- Voter registration and turn out is trending down, and less than 45% of the eligible population actually votes.
- Citizen involvement with local governments is down during a time when difficult decisions are being made about essential or priority services.
Since 1993, TMT has been an authority, change agent and advocate, focused on improving the community’s quality of life through collaboration and partnership across northwestern Nevada. In 1996, TMT received a $750,000 grant from Washoe Medical Center (now Renown Health.), which supported TMT through 2001. Of that $750,000, community organizations received $500,000 to impact change in indicator areas. Since 2003 memberships, sponsorships, small grants, events & donations have sustained our programs including updating our community indicators.
Residents of the Truckee meadows bring to light the work of TMT. Citizens provide ongoing input into what they value, businesses use that information for decision-making, and local governments for policy-making.