ICMA has conducted surveys on topics significant to local governments for decades. The resulting data provide valuable information for local decision makers and advance the state of the practice in local government. The results are sought by the media and mined by academicians. Our surveys:
- Cover topics of importance to local governments
- Identify trends in programs and practices
- Typically have a response rate of 20% or higher, with thousands of responses
- Developed with input from content experts and practitioners
- Reviewed for internal consistency and logic
- Pre-tested among local government officials
Our Database
ICMA’s database of local governments includes approximately 11,000 U.S. municipalities and 2,900 U.S. counties with populations of 2,500 or greater, as well as majority of municipalities and counties with populations under 2,500. The database includes population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau and identification codes that enable our survey results to be combined with available federal data for more robust analysis. We survey local governments regardless of whether their chief administrative officer is an ICMA member.
ICMA typically surveys several thousand local governments. Alternatively, depending on the research objectives, the survey population may consist of a carefully drawn sample.
Datasets from Survey Research are Available for Purchase
These datasets cover a variety of topics including service delivery, form of government, economic development, smart cities, cybersecurity, state of the profession, and sustainability.
Survey Topics
ICMA surveys assess the state of local government practices, programs, partnerships, and policies. Each year, our surveys cover a balance of recurring and emergent topics of interest to local governments. Recent survey topics include:
Longitudinal Data
On some topics, ICMA has conducted periodic surveys over time and maintains longitudinal data:
- Alternative Service Delivery
- Economic Development
- Sustainability Practices
- Local Governance Structures and Practices (form of government)
Survey Collaborations
In addition to our independent research, ICMA regularly collaborates with and administers surveys in partnership with academic institutions, federal agencies, and foundations. Examples include:
- Cybersecurity 2016 Survey (with the University of Maryland Baltimore County)
- 2016 Smart Cities Survey (with the Smart Cities Council)
- Alternative Service Delivery Survey (with Cornell University and the University of North Carolina, Wilmington; 2017 summary report in development)
- Residential Land-Use Regulation Survey (with the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business; forthcoming)
- Government Technology Solutions (with OnBase by Hyland; forthcoming).
Explore additional examples of collaborative research projects and products here. ICMA welcomes expressions of interest from potential partners. Contact surveyresearch@icma.org.
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Leadership Matters-Member Edition Archive
*The ICMA Newsletter was published every two weeks through May 7, 2012. View past issues from 2/27/2012 - 5/7/2012 here or check out the PDF's below.
Online job listings are available in the ICMA JobCenter at http://jobs.icma.org.
Downloads (Archived Issues)
ICMA Newsletter, July 20, 2009 (pdf, 343 KB)
ICMA Newsletter, July 6, 2009 (pdf, 366 KB)
ICMA Newsletter, June 22, 2009 (pdf, 301 KB)
ICMA Newsletter, June 8, 2009 (pdf, 351 KB)
ICMA Newsletter, May 25, 2009 (pdf, 361 KB)
ICMA Newsletter, May 11, 2009 (pdf, 593 KB)
ICMA Newsletter, April 27, 2009 (pdf, 513 KB)
ICMA Newsletter, April 13, 2008 (pdf, 302 KB)
ICMA Newsletter, March 30, 2009 (pdf, 299 KB)
ICMA Newsletter, March 16, 2009 (pdf, 308 KB)
ICMA Newsletter, March 2, 2009 (pdf, 296 KB)
ICMA Newsletter, February 14, 2009 (pdf, 312 KB)
ICMA Newsletter, February 2, 2009 (pdf, 311 KB)
ICMA Newsletter, January 19, 2009 (pdf, 385 KB)
ICMA Newsletter, January 5, 2009 (pdf, 223 KB)
ICMA Newsletter, December 22, 2008 (pdf, 305 KB)
ICMA Newsletter, December 8, 2008 (pdf, 302 KB)
ICMA Newsletter, November 24, 2008 (pdf, 313 KB)
ICMA Newsletter, November 10, 2008 (pdf, 682 KB)
ICMA Newsletter, October 27, 2008 (pdf, 307 KB)
ICMA Newsletter, October 13, 2008 (pdf, 278 KB)
ICMA Newsletter, September 29, 2008 (pdf, 319 KB)
ICMA Newsletter, September 15, 2008 (pdf, 328 KB)
ICMA Newsletter, September 1, 2008 (pdf, 313 KB)
The ICMA Senior Advisor program (formerly Range Rider Program *) is a joint activity of ICMA and state sponsors established by the ICMA Executive Board in 1974 to make the counsel, experience, and support of respected, retired managers of the profession available to members. Currently 114 Senior Advisors in 30 states provide a highly valued service by volunteering their time to offer confidential professional and personal support and advice.
Senior Advisors are selected jointly by the state sponsor and the ICMA Executive Director. Although they are expected to be visible, accessible and responsive to members and association needs, Senior Advisors are unpaid volunteers who pursue other activities while in retirement and thus are not “full time.” Expenses are shared by ICMA and the sponsoring state organization. The expenses allocated depend on the size of the state, the number of Senior Advisors and funds available from the sponsors.
Senior Advisors are available to meet periodically with members in their states or areas to discuss the profession and their concerns as members. Discussion topics range from relations with elected officials, overall management questions, relations with ICMA, responses to local controversies such as referenda on the council-manager plan, to career development.
Senior Advisors are friends, colleagues, and advisors to the profession—not consultants. The Senior Advisor program is designed to help with personal and professional issues, not to provide technical assistance or solve substantive problems in a local government. However, Senior Advisors may consult with local governments as individuals, on a part-time basis, as long as the consulting does not impair the effectiveness of the Senior Advisors. Senior Advisor guidelines contain advice for Senior Advisors who do part-time consulting.
Senior Advisors may also help communities interested in creating a professional local government management position, including adoption of council-manager government.
Members with questions on the Senior Advisor program can contact Senior Advisor Program Coordinator, Pam Brangaccio at (727) 204-8095 or e-mail pbrangaccio@icma.org.
*2013-2014 Program Review
As part of a review of the program in its 40th year, the ICMA Executive Board, in February 2014, approved changing the name from Range Riders to Senior Advisors to better describe the role and its primary emphasis on providing members with advice and support.
