DEPARTMENT: Office of Performance and Analysis (OPA)
FILE TYPE: Regular Information
TITLE
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Discussion Of Multi-County 2025 Residential Opinion Survey Project
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Discuss plans for a 2025 residential survey and summarize questions proposed in the draft survey.
SUMMARY
For two decades, Dakota County Commissioners have directed that a scientifically valid, random-sample public opinion survey be conducted on a two-to-three year cycle. The surveys gather objective information about residents’ perceptions of quality of life, quality of services provided by the County, and their satisfaction with County government.
Dakota County staff collaborated with staff in other counties for the seven residential surveys completed since 2004. Collaboration has lowered costs and improved the utility of the survey by providing comparable data and information across organizations.
In 2025, Dakota, Olmsted, Scott, St. Louis, and Washington counties propose to survey their respective residents to assess residential opinions and the performance of county government. As in previous survey projects, the 2025 Residential Survey Project is a partnership between the counties. A joint powers agreement (JPA) was approved in July 2024 by Dakota County Commissioners. Dakota County is the fiscal agent for the survey project and will manage the contract with the survey consultant, Polco/the National Research Center, Inc. of Madison, Wisconsin. Polco is a national strategic planning and public opinion research firm, focusing on information needs of the public sector. Dakota County has contracted with this organization for years, which has ensured consistency of benchmarking over time. Costs of the 2025 survey will be determined by the length of the survey, type of questions used, mailing requests, and amount of analysis prepared by the consultant.
It is anticipated that mailed postcards will be sent to a minimum of 4,900 randomly selected residential addresses in Dakota County. The postcards will contain information for accessing the survey online. An option will be provided if residents prefer having a paper survey mailed to them. The postcards will be mailed to an average minimum of 700 households per Commissioner District, with an expectation that about one-sixth of them will be returned, for approximately 800 completed surveys. The primary goal is to have the survey’s margin of error less than ±4%. As in the past, the surveys will use a set of “common” questions, as well as some questions that are unique to each county, and a set of demographic questions. Maintaining consistency in the common questions has value for analyzing the County’s own performance over time and allows comparisons with our partner counties and demographically similar counties across the nation.
Question development has been underway for several weeks. Staff from the Office of Performance and Analysis (OPA) met with each division’s relevant stakeholders, as well as representatives from the Offices of the County Attorney and County Sheriff. Polco’s survey consultant will be providing guidance for the quantity of survey postcards to distribute, question wording, and overall survey formatting.
The survey will be in the field for several weeks in early 2025. Analysis will be completed with reports sent to the partner counties in late spring or early summer 2025.
This presentation will overview highlights from the draft 2025 survey, provide an opportunity for feedback, and detail next steps.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Information only; no action requested.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
Dakota County’s cost is expected to be under $60,000. Sufficient funds are contained in Office of Performance and Analysis budget.
☐ None ☒ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
body
Information only; no action requested.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
24-381; 07/30/24
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Residential Survey proposed changes from 2022
BOARD GOALS
☐ A Great Place to Live ☐ A Healthy Environment
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☒ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACT
Department Head: Dave Paulsen
Author: Tim Paulus