Polco News & Knowledge

The People Have Spoken: Honoring America’s most Trusted Local Governments

Written by Polco | September 18, 2025

Each year we are proud to celebrate local governments with the  Best in Governance Awards — these awards shine a light on the jurisdictions that receive the highest resident ratings for local government performance as measured through national data. The top scorers represent the gold standard in public service, providing leadership and engaging their constituents to ensure their communities thrive.

In the next 4 weeks we will be announcing the top performers in essential areas of community livability - and we will announce the National Champion in each category at the ICMA conference in Tampa! 

Today we are excited to announce the top performers in the Trust in Government category.

Trust is the bedrock of the relationship between residents and their local governments. The  National Community Survey (The NCS) captures this broad concept through a wide range of measures — from residents’ perceptions of government honesty, fairness, and transparency, to their confidence in the direction of the community and the quality of services provided. In short, trust reflects both how people view their leaders’ integrity and how satisfied they are with the value and performance of local government.

The awards for the Voice of the People categories for Trust in Government honor the cities and counties that excel in these areas. In addition to recognizing the five communities with the highest ratings nationwide, we also celebrate the five jurisdictions that achieved the biggest transformations — those that made the most significant gains in earning residents’ trust and confidence.

Together, these ten communities exemplify innovation, responsiveness, and the pursuit of excellence in governance.

Top Performers for Trust in Government

Excellence - Voice of the People

  • City of Clive, Iowa
  • Town of Davidson, North Carolina
  • City of Eagan, Minnesota
  • City of Milton, Georgia
  • City of Papillion, Nebraska

Transformation - Voice of the People

  • Town of Ashland, Virginia
  • Village of Buffalo Grove, Illinois
  • City of Milton, Georgia
  • City of Rio Rancho, New Mexico
  • Borough of State College, Pennsylvania

What’s Next

The cities, counties, and school districts listed as top performers in each category represent the very best in public engagement and transparent decision-making.

🎉 The National Champions will be announced live at the ICMA Annual Conference in October in Tampa, Florida. 

Congratulations to all of this year’s Top Performers. We’re honored to showcase your leadership in building stronger, smarter, and more connected communities. Visit our awards page for more information about Polco’s Best in Governance Awards.