Invitations mailed to select households for National Community Survey
Published on July 31, 2024
Los Alamos County, in partnership with Polco, an independent consultant and civic engagement company, is kicking off its biennial community survey – The National Community Survey™. More than 2,500 postcards will be sent via mail on Friday, August 2, to randomly selected households throughout Los Alamos and White Rock. Recipients are invited to participate in this survey online or, if preferred, request a paper copy. The survey aims to provide a comprehensive picture of citizen perspectives on community livability.
The National Community Survey™ instrument is a comprehensive quality of life survey that benchmarks responses against other communities nationwide. According to county officials, this information adds another layer of understanding. Citizen perceptions that may appear to be “good” when viewed in isolation may, however, show the County is under or overperforming when compared to other communities across the country. The survey will include questions about quality of life, important characteristics of community, services provided by Los Alamos County, and priorities for the future.
Los Alamos County Council and leadership use the survey results to help guide strategic planning efforts, identify priority goals, and dedicate necessary resources to improve services, facilities, and initiatives.
Residents who receive a postcard invitation to take the survey can use the code and link included to access the online option immediately, or individuals can contact the County to request a paper copy. The survey will be available online in English and Spanish. Instructions for who to select in the household to take the survey (one person per household) will be included.
To augment the responses from the valid sample mailing, an open participation period will be extended to all citizens and businesses starting August 23. A link will be provided to the public at that time. The National Community Survey™ will close for everyone, and all paper copies of the survey must be received by September 6, 2024. A final report is expected in early October.
Visit the County’s website and select “Survey Reports” to view the 2022 NCS Report results and appendices.
About The National Community Survey™ (The NCS™): The NCS was among the first scientific surveys developed to gather resident opinion on a range of community issues and has been used in more than 350 jurisdictions across 46 states. The NCS is a cost-effective survey of resident opinion and an important benchmarking tool that allows for comparison among communities. Communities using The NCS have reported that the tool improved service delivery, strengthened communications with community stakeholders and helped leaders identify clear priorities for use in strategic planning and budget setting. The NCS is the only resident survey endorsed by the International City/County Management Association and the National League of Cities. Respondents to The NCS are asked to join the County’s Polco panel to see the survey results and continue to engage with the city on future research.
About Polco: (www.polco.us) Polco was developed to quickly deploy and analyze surveys online, providing the agility to gather critical information from community stakeholders throughout the nation. We have created tools for governments, economic development organizations and nonprofits to measure community livability.