Community:City of San Luis Obispo (San Luis Obispo County)
Population: 44,697

Summary: Polling and Utility Bill Inserts

The City of San Luis Obispo worked with a consultant to conduct a representative sample survey that identified and ranked residents’ preferences for discretionary and non-discretionary services. The city also included inserts in utility bills that provided notice of community budget meetings and asked customers to list three to five things that the agency should do in the next two years.

The effort yielded approximately 500 to 700 responses from a mailing of 14,000. These survey results have helped city leaders understand what services residents value most.