The city of Albert Lea is one of many jurisdictions in the United States to participate in The National Citizen Survey this year. Within the next few weeks, questionnaires will be sent to a random sample of 1,200 households, asking for feedback on the quality and usefulness of city services. The results will be included in a final report that city officials can use to guide future budget decisions, establish objectives and balance priorities.

The National Citizen Survey is sponsored by the International City/County Management Association in cooperation with National Research Center Inc. The questionnaire and survey procedure were designed based on the experience of hundreds of local governments, ranging in size from small to large. Scientific sampling and weighting of the responses in each city ensure accurate and reliable results. Because each jurisdiction’s survey is developed using a standard template, and many jurisdictions can be surveyed at one time, The National Citizen Survey is a very efficient way to measure citizen opinion.

Now in its 12th year of existence, more than 250 municipalities in 44 states have enrolled for The National Citizen Survey.