Community members pay taxes and consume local government services, and they most likely have opinions about the quantity and quality of those services and about the community as a place to live and work. Citizen and resident surveys can tap those opinions and provide valuable input to city and county managers and elected officials as they set priorities and allocate resources. Where formal performance management systems are in place, survey responses are frequently used as indicators of service quality.

Educating residents about how their local government operates and the importance of their participation in community affairs is essential to a jurisdiction’s success. The better-informed residents are, the more they can assist their local government in ensuring a high quality of life for their community.

A global challenge experienced at the local level, local governments are uniquely positioned to take action on climate change. Find resources and tools that can help your community reduce its carbon footprint as well as adapt and plan for future climate impacts.

In a democracy, community involvement is key to making good decisions.  But securing the active involvement of citizens can be a challenge in our fast-paced world. The people who show up at community meetings aren’t the only ones with an interest.  Learn more about strategies for improving community involvement.