Trust in Pinellas County Ranks Above National Average

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Nine out of 10 residents in Pinellas County say they have trust and confidence in their local government, a number which far surpasses the national average for government trust.

These and other results from the Pinellas County 2016 Citizen Survey were shared with citizens Tuesday night at the Board’s Community Conversation, an event held at least once a year as part of the county’s proactive efforts to engage with citizens beyond regular meetings.

This year, the county again partnered with St. Petersburg College – Seminole Campus to deliver a two-hour program that included networking, a presentation on the citizen survey and the county’s strategic plan, as well as a citizen questions and answers session. More than 80 citizens attended in person and nearly 350 participated via the county’s blog and social media networks.

Several thousand citizens participated in the telephone portion of the Community Conversation. During this 90-minute period, the conference call peaked with over 1,400 citizens on the call at one time.

The statistically-valid survey, which has been conducted annually for the past five years, reflected a 91 percent approval rating by local citizens toward Pinellas County. The number is the highest recorded since the county officially began its citizen surveys in 2012.

The trust and confidence rates in Pinellas County outperformed the national average. According to a Gallup Poll, the national rate is 70 percent for local governments, a continuation of a downward trend, in contrast to the upward trend in Pinellas County.

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“The fact that nine out of every 10 residents has confidence in Pinellas County government speaks volumes about the things we are doing to serve the community,” said Pinellas County Administrator Mark S. Woodard. “It sends a clear vote of confidence in the Board and their vision, which is to be the standard for public service in America.”

Survey results also showed that a vast majority of residents are pleased with Pinellas County:

– 94 percent would recommend the county as a place to live.
– 89 percent would recommend the county as a place to work.
– 91 percent would recommend the county as a place to raise children.
– 94 percent would recommend the county as a place to retire.

“All of us that call Pinellas County home, whether we live in an unincorporated area of the county or in one of the 24 municipalities, have a great love for our community,” said Commission Chairman Charlie Justice. “We have worked hard throughout the county and with all of our partners to develop a Strategic Plan to address the common goals of our community. I believe we are seeing the results of our efforts.”
Residents were also asked what they thought about certain aspects of their community, such as parks, public transit and support services for the homeless. They reported that their experiences are closer than ever to their expectations.
“People are telling us they are more satisfied with their county than ever before,” said Woodard. “This is a powerful message and is a wonderful affirmation that with partners, we can do more.”

To view the 2016 Citizens Survey, visit www.pinellascounty.org/surveys. To watch a recording of the Community Conversation, visit www.pinellascounty.org/communityconversation.

The Pinellas County “Doing Things for You” app is available for residents to report issues and access useful resources. Pinellas County can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. More information is available on the county website, www.pinellascounty.org, which features LiveChat for assistance. Pinellas County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

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