Bloomington, Indiana – The City of Bloomington is preparing to hear directly from residents once again, announcing the launch of its 2026 Community Survey. The effort continues a practice that began in 2017, when the City committed to working with an independent research firm to measure public views on municipal services, local priorities, and overall quality of life.
Traditionally conducted every two years, the survey was originally expected in 2025. City officials opted to move it to 2026, citing the number of major engagement initiatives carried out last year, including large-scale planning efforts and departmental surveys. By spacing out those projects, the City determined it could avoid survey fatigue and ensure clearer, more focused participation.
This marks the first Community Survey under the Thomson administration. Ahead of the new cycle, Bloomington reviewed how past surveys were structured, taking into account public input about question design and methodology.
After that evaluation, the City selected a new consultant: aQity Research & Insights Inc., a public opinion research firm based in Evanston, Illinois. The firm previously partnered with Bloomington on the 2025 Parks and Recreation Master Plan survey and will now oversee the broader 2026 community-wide effort.
A key component of the survey is its scientific sample. Invitations will be sent to a randomized group of households directly by aQity on behalf of the City. Officials say they will complete a statistically valid sample of at least 530 responses before opening the survey to the general public. That sequencing is designed to protect the integrity of the scientific data.
City leaders emphasized that privacy protections remain central to the process. Responses will be kept confidential, and findings will be presented only in aggregate form. Residents who receive an invitation can be assured the communication is legitimate.
Those who inquire about participating but are not part of the initial randomized group are encouraged to watch for a mailed or emailed invitation in the coming weeks. If they are not included in the scientific sample, they will still have an opportunity to weigh in once the survey opens for broader public participation after the statistically valid portion is complete.
This year’s questionnaire will include both familiar and updated elements. Core benchmarking questions will allow the City to track trends over time, while revised and new questions aim to reflect current priorities and lessons drawn from earlier rounds of feedback.
Past survey results remain available online, and the full 2026 report will be released after data collection concludes. The findings will be presented at a future public meeting, with details to be announced. Residents seeking additional information may contact [email protected].
