Garner invites residents to shape 2026 priorities through community survey

Garner announced on Jan. 5 that it will participate in the 2026 National Community Survey and invited residents to take part. The survey is a tool many municipalities use to measure public satisfaction and community priorities, and town leaders said the results will help shape Garner’s policy and service decisions for 2026.

The survey program is designed to produce statistically reliable information about resident views, enabling elected officials and staff to gauge satisfaction across areas such as public services, infrastructure and quality of life. For a town navigating growth and shifting local needs, that kind of data can influence budget choices, capital projects and public engagement strategies. Garner’s announcement emphasizes the town’s broader outreach for citizen input and asked residents to watch for invitations or other notifications about how to participate.

Participation matters in Wake County because the feedback helps translate everyday experiences into measurable priorities. When enough residents respond, the town gains clearer evidence on which services are working and where residents want more attention. That can affect everything from park improvements and road maintenance to public safety programming and development planning in neighborhoods across Garner.

The town framed the survey as part of ongoing efforts to involve citizens in local decision-making. Staff will use survey findings alongside other community input to refine goals for the year. For residents, the most immediate impact will be the opportunity to tell officials what matters most to them — a chance to weigh in before budgets are set and projects are prioritized.

Garner’s outreach also has practical implications for community groups, neighborhood associations and service providers who track municipal priorities. Nonprofits and local businesses often align programming and investments with town plans, so survey results can ripple outward into partnerships and funding opportunities that shape daily life in Garner.

Look for the town’s notifications about participation and respond when you can; higher response rates increase the accuracy and usefulness of the results. If you represent a neighborhood group, consider encouraging members to participate so diverse voices from across Garner are heard.

Our two cents? When that survey invitation arrives, take a few minutes to fill it out. It’s an easy, local way to shape the services and projects that affect your block, your commute and your kid’s playground.