City Invites All Residents to Participate in 2021 Bloomington Community Survey

Bloomington, Ind. - The City of Bloomington invites residents to participate in the online 2021 Bloomington Community Survey from April 21 - May 5. The survey is available at https://bloomington.in.gov/communitysurvey. This open participation survey complements the scientific survey that was mailed to a random sample of 3,000 Bloomington households during the last week of March. Residents who were not mailed the randomized survey now have the option of completing the same survey online. The confidential responses to each part of the survey will be collected, analyzed, and published (anonymously) in separate data sets that will provide the City critical feedback about the quality and value of City services and conditions. 

If a resident received a survey invitation in the mail, it is important that they complete that version rather than the online open participation survey, in order to keep the data sets distinct.  

The questions in the open participation survey are the same as those in the sampled survey. Respondents to the open participation survey may submit their response anonymously, after providing their email address and zip code. The privacy and confidentiality of respondents to either part of the survey will be protected.  

This is the third community-wide survey of Bloomington residents, being administered again by National Research Center, Inc. (NRC). Like the first two surveys, conducted in 2017 and 2019, this survey will gauge residents’ perceptions of the quality and value of City services and current conditions in the community. The new results will provide data for use in comparison with peer cities, to help inform decision-making, and to help identify relevant shifts in public perceptions of city services and conditions, all in light of previous years’ results.  

“We want to hear from Bloomington residents about your experience of living here--from the government services you depend on to the parks you enjoy,” said Mayor John Hamilton. “This survey is one of numerous ways you can get involved in shaping the decisions and investments we make as a community, to improve outcomes for everyone. If you received a survey in the mail, please fill that one out--if not, the open participation survey online is a great chance to share your opinions.  And find out how your fellow Bloomingtonians have responded in previous years--the results are all posted at the City’s website.”

The 2019 survey captured the responses of 610 households from a similar representative sample of 3,000 randomly selected residents, yielding a response rate of 21%. An additional 132 residents completed the opt-in survey online. 2021 survey results will be presented in a public meeting later this year and will be available alongside previous years’ results on B-Clear.

NRC is a survey research and evaluation firm focusing on the information requirements of the public sector, including local governments, non-profit agencies, and foundations.