The Athens-Clarke County Unified Government has contracted with the National Research Center to administer the National Citizen Survey for the second time since 2016 to gauge Athens residents' opinions on issues and services in the community. The survey will be sent to 1,800 randomly-selected Athens-Clarke County households in April through the mail. Residents who receive the survey are encouraged to fill it out and return it to the National Research Center in the included self-addressed, stamped envelope. 

The first NCS for Athens-Clarke County was distributed in January 2016 with similar questions. A representative sample of 364 residents from across Athens-Clarke County returned the survey or filled it out online. Once tabulated, the results from the 2018 NCS will be compared to the results from the 2016 NCS. The results from the first NCS in 2016 is available at www.accgov.com/ncs.

The NCS measures eight aspects of community livability:

• Community Engagement

• Education & Enrichment

• Recreation & Wellness

• Economy

• Built Environment

• Natural Environment

• Safety

• Mobility

In each area, residents report their perceptions about the quality of their community and related services, as well as their own engagement within the community 

The NCS was among the first scientific surveys to gather resident opinion on a range of community issues and has been used by more than 350 communities in 48 states. Communities using the NCS have reported that the tool improved service delivery, strengthened communications with community stakeholders, and identified clear priorities for use in strategic planning and budget setting. 

The NCS is the only citizen survey tool endorsed by the International City/County Management Association and the National League of Cities. The survey used in Athens-Clarke County asks some general questions that will allow for data to be measured against other communities across the country and also asks some questions tailored specifically for Athens-Clarke County. 

For more information about Athens-Clarke County's use of the National Citizen Survey, contact the Manager's Office at 706-613-3020.