Frequently Asked Questions

Go to Polco to complete the survey.  The survey is open until December 4.  Results will be shared with the community in January 2025.

View the final survey results on this page.  These survey results will allow the Mayor and City Council to see what issues are most important to our residents and to measure the quality of the services we provide.  This data will be helpful in updating the City's strategic plan and budget priorities in future years.  It will also allow us to track changes in community perceptions in the future.

The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete.  It touches on many aspects of quality of life and City service delivery.  We look forward to hearing from our community in this thorough and comprehensive feedback tool.

1. The Sampled Survey was designed to be as representative as possible of the population of the jurisdiction. A sampling of community households is randomly selected from a comprehensive list of residential addresses as an effort to reduce bias and get feedback from all areas within the community. The sampled group receives a paper invitation in the mail. Their link is unique to their household and should not be shared. This effort is to gather accurate data from the residents who make up the community today.
2. The Open Participation Survey is offered to all residents so each voice in the community can be heard. This survey is hosted online. It is identical to the Sampled Survey except that it asks if you are a resident of the community and which area of the community you live in. 

The National Community Survey has been used in more than 350 jurisdictions across 46 states.  This allows for robust benchmark comparisons among communities across the nation.  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 City has hired Polco to conduct the National Community Survey in Missoula.  Randomly selected households will receive a postcard that looks like this.  This is a legitimate mailing and we would love it if you follow the link and participate!  For those who are not part of the random sample, the survey will open to for full community participation on November 13.

If you received a postcard invitation and paper survey in the mail, then this survey has a unique link for randomly selected households only and should not be shared.  We encourage everyone to share the Open Participation survey link with their neighbors. The survey will be open November 13 through December 4.

Polco selects a random sample of 3,500 households across the city, with special attention to ensure even access across all six wards.  Random sampling ensures integrity in results.  All households will be able to participate in the survey beginning November 13. 

If you received a postcard as part of the random sample, you will need to enter the address on the card into your web browser.  Make sure you type the URL (site address) in the address bar, not into a search engine.  Click the image below to view it at full size.  

Also, while the survey should work with most internet browsers, it does not work with Internet Explorer.  Internet Explorer is discontinued and is no longer fully functional.  Please try a different browser.