Many Austin residents have been receiving unexpected phone calls lately; this time, however, they aren’t from political campaigns. The Austin Public School District has hired the advisory firm Springsted to oversee a survey gauging the public’s opinion about the operating referendum scheduled to come to voters in November 2009.

The survey will last as long as it takes to successfully complete 400 surveys.

“We are hoping to get the results sometime in January,” said Lori Volz, director of finance and operations.

Volz said the survey will serve as a means to not only determine what residents think about the operating referendums, but “what issues we need to communicate better.”

In the survey, residents are asked if they would be willing to renew the referendum next year, increase it and by how much, or combine it with another one. They are also asked for their opinion about the school district and its fiscal management.

Another smaller, follow-up survey will be conducted in May. The current operating referendum — one of three — generates $3.5 million per year for Austin Public Schools, at $53 per marginal cost pupil unit. The district is currently asking voters to renew this referendum one year early, in November 2009. If that vote fails, they will go to voters again in November 2010. If it does not pass in 2010, it will expire.