The 2011 ICMA Member Survey was conducted in December, and the response rate was significantly higher than ever before. Seventy percent of the respondents were full members; 14% percent were in-service affiliate members; and the remaining 16% were life, honorary, retired, professor, intern, and student members. The majority of respondents were between 42 and 60 years old.

Overall, respondents identified budget-finance-related issues as being of greatest concern, with 60% identifying those issues as the primary, and 28% identifying them as secondary. Economic development, unemployment, housing, and infrastructure were reported, as well as council relations, distrust in government, and service delivery (in the context of citizens wanting more services but being unwilling to pay for them).

Fifty-five percent of respondents indicated they have reached their career goal. The percentage of women who have reached their career goal is 40%; 60% of men have reached their goal. 

The top three most highly valued benefits are the ICMA Newsletter, advocacy for professional local government, and PM magazine. Ninety-one percent of respondents rate ICMA’s customer service as “excellent” or “good.”

A majority of respondents (62%) reported that they have “occasionally” or “only once or twice” visited the Knowledge Network. The highest percentage of members reports that they use the ICMA website as “a resource to help with their job.” If ICMA made publications available for e-readers, approximately 70% of those with e-readers indicated that they would purchase them.

All respondents were entered in a drawing for a complimentary 2012 ICMA Annual Conference registration, and the lucky winner was Philip C. Green, MPA, ICMA-CM. Green is assistant city administrator of Blair, Nebraska, and has been an ICMA member since he began his local government career in 2004.

The survey provided ICMA with valuable information about members’ concerns and needs, and staff look forward to using this feedback to better serve you.