Trust in local government is rising, and so are expectations. CivicPlus® released its latest Resident Satisfaction and Trust report, drawing on 34,151 responses across eight survey waves, to show how everyday digital experiences shape the way residents evaluate their leaders. The data points to a Digital Trust Gap: the divide between residents who experience local government as accessible, responsive, and easy to engage with, and those who do not. 

• Trust and satisfaction: Satisfaction is up to 54% from 48% in 2022 but still trails trust, with 82% trusting local leaders completely or somewhat.
• Website quality: 62% say a municipality’s website reflects the quality of its leadership, but only 44% find their own very or extremely easy to navigate. Among residents who find it easy, 94% report more trust than distrust in local leaders, versus 48% of those who find it difficult.
• AI sentiment: 55% are extremely or very concerned about privacy if local government uses AI, yet residents are still more open than opposed.

Read the report to learn how trust and satisfaction have moved since 2022, what drives support for new technology, where civic engagement is heading, how residents expect federal budget changes to affect them, and practical steps leaders can take now.