DEPARTMENT: Office of Performance and Analysis (OPA)
FILE TYPE: Regular Information
TITLE
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Update On Multi-County 2025 Residential Opinion Survey Project
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Receive an update on the revised 2025 residential survey and finalize survey for deployment in January 2025.
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.
In 2025, Dakota, Olmsted, Scott, St. Louis, and Washington counties will 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 and surveys will be sent to a minimum of 7,000 randomly selected residential addresses in Dakota County. The postcards will contain information for accessing the survey. 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, ...
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