North Fulton Today

City of Milton recently issued the following announcement.

Milton’s version of the National Community Survey features an array of questions gauging residents’ views on most every aspect of life from traffic flow to education to first responders to how they feel about Milton as a place to live, raise children, work, visit and retire.

Its results will allow the City to compare itself with hundreds of other municipalities nationwide conducting the same survey, as well as with how Milton residents’ perceptions have changed over time since the NCS was also conducted here in 2009, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018.

HOW DO PEOPLE FILL OUT THIS IMPORTANT SURVEY?

Postcards and envelopes with survey information went out in late March to 2,800 Milton households. (Yes, this means that not every Milton household is represented. This practice is standard in surveying, allowing for statistically significant results based off various metrics.) Only one adult in each residence that gets a survey should fill it out.

Those selected can either fill out a paper survey and mail it back (using a pre-stamped, pre-addressed envelope). Or more likely – and similar to the U.S. Census – they can complete the survey online using a link that is unique to only their household.

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE COMPLETE THE NATIONAL COMMUNITY SURVEY?

Because their opinions matter! And, since the NCS is a scientific survey, the results can be extrapolated to reflect how the whole of Milton residents – not just those who happen to go online to do a survey there – really feel. City leaders will use these results to inform their decisions on policies, projects, and priorities.

WHO AND HOW WERE THOSE HOUSEHOLDS SELECTED?

The 2,800 households were selected at random following an extensive, data-driven effort to ensure a representative distribution – based on population and location – of the Milton community’s views. For example, they'll be asked to rate the City's quality of life 

WHO AND WHERE WILL THE NCS MAILING COME FROM?

The City of Milton is working with surveying experts at the National Research Center to conduct the National Community Survey. Members of the National Research Center team, in fact, send out the surveys from a Colorado address. However, the same envelope mentions Milton City Hall. And the enclosed letter features Mayor Peyton Jamison's signature.

WILL THERE BE A WAY ALL MILTON RESIDENTS CAN TAKE THIS SURVEY?

Yes. Later this spring, there will be a version of the survey posted on the City’s website that anyone can taken. Still, since there’s no way to gauge who is taking such online surveys, how often they’re doing so, and where they live (if even in Milton), the version going out to the 2,800 households will be the official ones that inform the final analysis of results.

WHO ELSE USES THE NCS?

The NCS has been used by more than 350 jurisdictions across 46 states. It is the only resident survey endorsed by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA, which Milton belongs to) and the National League of Cities. This is useful for Milton because our City's results can be compared against those from other municipalities around the United States; so we'll see how we fare favorably, and not so favorably, relative to other places.

WHAT KIND OF TOPICS ARE ADDRESSED IN THIS SURVEY?

A little bit of everything. The National Community Survey gauges people's sentiments on a wide range of issues relative to where they live, as well as in some cases their experiences in those places. For example, they'll be asked to rate their neighborhood and overall quality of life in Milton, as well as how well the community makes residents feel welcome and the ease of travel. Many of the questions do not apply directly to things the City of Milton control -- such as K-12 education or air quality -- but do reflect on the experience of a person living here.

The majority of the questions are asked on all versions of the National Community Survey, meaning Milton responses can be compared to those of someone in Idaho or New Jersey who took their own city's version of the NCS. But there are a few questions specifically designed for Milton residents.

WHO CONDUCTS THE NATIONAL COMMUNITY SURVEY?

The National Community Survey is conducted on Milton’s behalf by the National Research Center. (Polco acquired the National Research Center in 2019.)

Original source can be found here.