Despite many challenges Indiana communities have faced in recent years, a new survey finds that 85 percent of local elected officials are optimistic about their communities’ future. Yet they report there are many concerns left to address, including drug abuse, internet access, economic inequality, and affordable housing, among many others.
Those findings come from the 2020 Indiana Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations Survey conducted by the Indiana University Public Policy Institute. The survey helps the IACIR commission and the Indiana General Assembly better understand the wide array of challenges local governments face.
Two-thirds of officials identified overall economic conditions as a major or moderate problem, and nearly one-third said conditions had worsened during the past year. Two-thirds also reported that economic inequality was a major or moderate issue. A lack of affordable housing was also a critical challenge in 2020, with 74 percent of respondents listing it as a major or moderate issue. In fact, local leaders selected affordable housing most often as their top priority to address during the next two years.
Internet connectivity also remains a real barrier for many Hoosiers, one that has worsened since the last survey in 2017. More than two-thirds of local leaders said both having high-speed internet/broadband service and having reliable, affordable service were problems in their communities. Addressing internet access was listed among the top five priority issues for communities to address in the next two years.
Drug abuse remains a significant problem. In fact, 94 percent of local officials listed it as a major or moderate problem in their community. Drug abuse was listed more than any other condition as having worsened in the past year. The issue ranked fifth among the top 10 issues leaders said were most important to work on during the next two years.
Lastly, 32 percent of officials said the condition of their local roads and streets had improved in the past year. However, 63 percent still said road conditions are a major or moderate problem, and many officials chose the issue as one that is important to work on during the next two years.
The 2020 questionnaire was sent to 2,040 elected county, city, town, township, and school board officials between February and August of 2020. Approximately 31 percent of recipients responded. To read the full 2020 IACIR Survey, visitiacir.policyinstitute.iu.edu.
About the Indiana Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations:
The Indiana Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (IACIR) facilitates communication and cooperation between federal, state, and local units of government to improve services for Indiana citizens. The IACIR is housed within the IU Public Policy Institute (PPI).
About the IU Public Policy Institute:
The IU Public Policy Institute produces unbiased, high-quality research, analyses and policy guidance to effect positive change and improve the quality of life in communities across Indiana and the nation. As a multidisciplinary institute within the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, PPI supports the Center for Health and Justice Research, the Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy, the Manufacturing Policy Initiative, and the Indiana Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations. Learn more at policyinstitute.iu.edu.
About the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IUPUI:
The O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IUPUI helps address the issues of modern society by preparing its students to lead the organizations that make and enforce laws, shape public policy, keep our nation safe, protect the planet, reduce disaster impact, and support fellow citizens. O’Neill faculty, their research, and work in the community focus on topics relating to criminal justice, civic leadership, media and public affairs, urban affairs, public safety management, nonprofit management, environmental sustainability, and public policy. Learn more at oneill.iupui.edu.