In an era when public trust must be earned and resources must stretch further, data isn’t just an operational tool—it’s a catalyst for transformation. On August 20, 2025, Polco hosted a dynamic webinar unpacking five high-impact ways local governments are using data to lead smarter, build trust, and deliver real results for residents.
With speakers including Alex Pedersen (Polco Co-Founder & Head of Strategy), Michelle Kobayashi (Chief Strategy Officer), and Tobin McKearin (Chief Operating Officer), the webinar offered real-world use cases, best practices, and inspiration for cities, counties, and school districts navigating today’s challenges.
“Data doesn’t just tell you what’s happening. It tells you where to go next.” – Michelle Kobayashi
“Good data doesn’t just confirm what you know—it helps uncover what you didn’t know to ask.”
Strategic planning is no longer a static document. The most forward-thinking municipalities are building living strategies, grounded in resident sentiment, economic indicators, and benchmark comparisons.
Michelle highlighted how communities are using The National Community Survey (NCS) not only to assess livability but also to prioritize. One example she shared: “A city saw mobility and safety rise to the top of resident priorities. That shaped department-level goals and even capital investment decisions.”
With Polco, local leaders can move beyond anecdotal input to real, participatory planning—powered by the GPAL framework, interactive dashboards, and resident engagement tools.
“You can’t measure the impact of a policy if you didn’t define success before you passed it.” – Tobin McKearin
Before drafting legislation or launching new programs, governments are using modeling tools, comparative data, and resident feedback to test policies and forecast outcomes.
A standout example came from Santa Barbara County, where planners used Polco’s Housing Simulation to guide complex rezoning. Tobin noted: “They used it live in planning commission meetings to visualize equity impacts and get real-time input.”
This approach transformed contentious zoning discussions into collaborative problem-solving sessions, backed by data and clear visuals.
“Data isn’t just for accounting. It’s for conversations.”
Budgeting is one of the most visible and debated areas of governance. Yet, too often it’s shrouded in complexity. Polco’s tools aim to flip that script. Alex shared the story of the Edmonds School District, which faced a significant deficit. Instead of closing off the process, they opened it up—with Polco’s Budget Simulation. The results?
“This wasn’t just a survey—it was a two-way educational experience,” Michelle emphasized. Polco’s Taxpayer Receipt, Budget Simulations, and Prioritize tools all help governments make budgeting more understandable, participatory, and aligned with public values.
“What gets measured gets managed—and improved.”
Beyond big-picture strategy, Polco tools are also being used daily—to monitor community health, track livability, and adjust services in real time. Michelle walked through how one mid-sized city used the Track platform to watch metrics like:
When indicators started slipping, staff could quickly adjust programming—rather than wait for the next annual report. “It’s about seeing problems before they become crises,” said Tobin.
Polco’s Track dashboards connect objective data and public opinion—giving administrators a holistic view of performance.
“Data closes the loop between intention and impact.”
Setting goals is the easy part. The challenge? Proving you’re making progress. Tobin explained how one city embedded NCS benchmarks into its quarterly council check-ins, aligning progress reports with resident priorities in areas like:
The result? Data that’s not just archived—but actively used in decision-making and public accountability. Polco’s tools provide longitudinal dashboards, goal tracking, and custom reporting—making it easy to show residents what’s been accomplished and what still needs attention.
Throughout the webinar, a recurring theme emerged: Data is a bridge between government and community. “When residents see their feedback lead to action—when they can simulate a budget or track outcomes—they stop being just observers. They become collaborators,” said Alex.
Polco’s platform makes this shift possible by integrating:
Want to see how your local government can use data to lead with confidence? Whether you're just beginning your data journey or scaling your impact, our team is ready to help.