DEPARTMENT: Office of Performance and Analysis (OPA)
FILE TYPE: Regular Information
TITLE
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Report On Results Of 2025 Multi-County Residential Opinion Survey
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Provide a report on the results of the 2025 Multi-County Residential Opinion Survey.
SUMMARY
Dakota County Commissioners have directed that a scientifically valid, random-sample public opinion survey be conducted on a two-to-three year cycle for two decades. The surveys gather objective information about residents’ perceptions of quality of life, quality of services provided, and their satisfaction with county government. In July 2024, the Board authorized the 2025 Residential Survey; the most recent prior survey was in 2022.
In 2025, Dakota, Olmsted, Scott, St. Louis, and Washington counties collaborated to survey residential households to assess residential opinions and the performance of county government. As with the seven previous residential surveys conducted since 2004, the 2025 Residential Survey Project is a partnership between these counties. Collaborating lowers costs and improves the utility of the survey by providing comparable data and information across organizations.
The survey was conducted by our consultant, Polco/the National Research Center, Inc. of Middleton, Wisconsin. Polco is a national strategic planning and public opinion research firm, focusing on information needs of the public sector, and partners with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) to conduct a national citizen survey across the country.
The survey was sent to 7,000 randomly selected residential addresses in Dakota County. The response rate was 12 percent overall and follows a trend of decreasing response rates with each successive survey since 2008. Survey results (for the responses as a whole) have a 95 percent confidence level within plus or minus four percentage points on any given question.
A copy of the survey report (Attachment: Dakota County 2025 Survey Report), including an Executive Summary of the findings, as well as the complete data tables, and questions are attached.
The five-page survey consisted of 39 questions, including 12 demographic questions. Several common questions were included, which allows for comparison with other counties and trend analysis over time within the county. Questions were developed with assistance from a broad range of County staff including representatives of the County Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office. County survey coordinators also exchanged question ideas and priorities and were assisted by survey development professionals at Polco/NRC.
Erin Caldwell, Survey Research Principal with Polco/NRC, will present a summary of the findings and respond to questions from the Board of Commissioners. Katie O’Connor and Dave Paulsen from Dakota County’s Office of Performance and Analysis are also available to respond to questions.
The following are select highlights from the survey report.
Overall Quality of Life - 78/100 rating (same as 2022 rating and much higher than national county average in 2025)
Note: ratings in the survey report are on a scale of 0-100 (0=poor, 100=excellent).
What residents like most about living in Dakota County (Top Three Responses)
1) Location - 29% respondents selected (up from 27% in 2022).
2) Quality of Life in General - 23% respondents selected (up from 21% in 2022).
3) Parks/Lakes/Trails - 13% (down from 15% in 2022).
Overall Quality of County Services - 69/100 rating (same as 2022 rating and much higher than national county average in 2025)
Rating of Individual County Services (Top Three Responses)
1 - tie) Parks and Recreation - 86/100 rating (same as 2022 rating).
1 - tie) Libraries - 86/100 rating (up from 85/100 rating in 2022 and much higher than national county average in 2025).
3) Trail and Greenways System - 81/100 rating (same as 81/100 rating in 2022).
Approve of the Job the County Board is Doing - 68/100 points (down from 71/100 points in 2022)
Most Serious Issue Facing Dakota County (Top Three Responses for this open-ended question)
1) Affordable Housing - 13% of mentions (same as percent in 2022).
2 - tie) Growth/Development - 12% of mentions (up from 9% in 2022).
2 - tie) Taxes - 12% of mentions (up from 8% in 2022).
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Information only; no action requested.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
☒ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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Information only; no action requested.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
24-381; 07/30/24
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Dakota County Survey Report 2025 (Final)
Attachment: Presentation Slides
BOARD GOALS
☐ Thriving People ☐ A Healthy Environment with Quality Natural Resources
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☒ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACT
Department Head: Dave Paulsen
Author: Penny Anderson