Columbia’s annual community survey offers us a valuable check-in. It’s one of the ways we listen to residents about what’s working, what needs attention, and where expectations are changing. While no single survey can capture every perspective, taken together with public meetings, emails, neighborhood conversations, and daily interactions, it helps us measure whether our efforts are aligning with community experience.
This year’s results give us reason to pause and reflect on the accomplishments we’ve achieved together and the opportunities for improvement. The 2025 survey indicates stability and targeted improvement across many of the areas assessed. Satisfaction with 80 of the 89 categories evaluated either stayed the same or increased compared to last year. That matters. In a time when trust in institutions is declining nationally, maintaining steady confidence while making gains in key areas is not something we take lightly.
Of particular note were the improvements related to public safety. Satisfaction with the city’s efforts to prevent crime increased by more than 12 percent. Ratings for the quality of police and fire services rose nearly 10 percent. These gains reflect intentional work by our staff — work like starting our own in-house police academy and procuring the property for a new fire station. It tells us that residents are beginning to see and feel the impact of those efforts in their daily lives.
We also saw a meaningful increase in satisfaction with the city’s effectiveness in communicating with the public, up more than 6 percent from last year. That feedback is encouraging, and it reinforces the importance of meeting people where they are with clear, timely, and accessible information. Whether it’s sharing updates online via BeHeard.CoMo.gov, hosting Let’s Talk Locals in every ward with council members and staff, or showing up at neighborhood events, we know communication isn’t a one-way street. It’s about listening as much as it is about sharing information.
Overall, about 70 percent of respondents reported that Columbia is a good place to live or work. While that leaves room for improvement, it suggests that many residents still see strong value in our community, even as we navigate growth, economic pressures, and broader uncertainty at the state and federal levels. A favorite feature of the community survey is when respondents compare our results to other cities in the Midwest and nationally. This could be the competitive athlete in me, but I really liked that Columbia is performing at or above peer and national averages in several core areas at a time when many communities are seeing declines.
At the same time, the open-ended comments reminded us that progress in one area often shifts attention to another. Compared to last year, there were fewer comments centered on public safety and homelessness, and more focused on infrastructure and basic services. Residents raised concerns about road conditions, sidewalk connectivity, maintenance, and the desire to see investment more evenly distributed across neighborhoods. That shift is important. It tells us that while some concerns are easing, expectations for visible, everyday improvements are rising.
This feedback is shaping our next steps. We are refining how we prioritize road resurfacing and sidewalk improvements, using data to guide investments based on need rather than volume of complaints. We are continuing to pursue outside funding to support infrastructure upgrades, while being transparent about what local dollars can realistically support. And we are expanding opportunities for residents to engage directly with staff and elected officials about what’s happening in their part of the city.
The survey also reinforces something we know to be true: Lasting progress takes time. Many of the challenges residents care about most, from mental health services to infrastructure funding, require sustained effort and collaboration beyond city limits. Still, the year-over-year improvements in key areas show that when we stay focused, communicate clearly, and work alongside our partners, our efforts can make a measurable difference.
