New Study Examines City-County Council

A new study examines the effectiveness of the Indianapolis City-County Council.  It polled residents and city leaders to evaluate the council’s structure, public engagement ability, priority issues and responsibilities.

Researchers at the Indiana University Public Policy Institute conducted the study.  Professor Cullen Merritt says areas of improvement were identified and include better technology practices, and a better website.

"What do residents see and how can they go about accessing that information in an easy manner," says Merritt. 

The report also suggests improving outreach, compensation and staffing.  

"Our councillors, residents felt, worked extremely hard, but sometimes residents didn’t always know the constraints resource wise, that councillors deal with," says Merritt. 

Respondents had high levels of trust for council members. Priority areas of importance were public works, public safety and education.