Local Gov Can Build Trust by Going Digital

Source: GovTech Published: January 28th, 2021

The coronavirus crisis has challenged local governments to deliver better services through new platforms and offerings. Now, it is offering local governments an opportunity to build trust in their communities.

For years, Pew Research has documented Americans’ declining trust in the federal government. According to a recent Economist survey, only two in five Americans give the federal government excellent or good marks on their handling of the coronavirus. But 55 percent say their state and local governments are doing a good job. A 2019 Gallup poll found that three-quarters of Americans trust their local governments, while less than half trust the executive or legislative branch. 

In 2020 and beyond, local governments have a unique opportunity to improve public trust and re-engage constituents with a smart digital transformation plan.

At its core, distrust is the result of frustration. In our digital world, American citizens are used to the easy, quick and convenient digital services that the private sector offers. They expect the same efficiency and quality of service from the public sector. When the public sector doesn’t deliver, citizens wonder why and start to question whether their governments have their best interests at heart.

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Photo by Rodion Kutsaev on Unsplash