County manager announces citizen survey to inform a three‑to‑five‑year strategic plan, targets 400 responses

County Manager Mr. Shepherd announced on April 6 that Alleghany County will launch a citizen survey to gather resident input that will guide a three‑to‑five‑year strategic plan.

Shepherd said the survey will be available on the county website and distributed through multiple outreach channels — churches, schools, employers, and in-person events — and emphasized the goal of achieving at least 400 completed responses to provide a reliable sample for planning. He told the commissioners the county has received a recommendation from the School of Government suggesting 200 responses but said his target is 400 to improve statistical confidence.

Why it matters: the survey is intended to inform budget priorities, evaluate services, and set near-term strategic goals. Shepherd said results will be shared publicly and that staff plan to report back to the board on survey findings to inform budget and program decisions.

Shepherd asked commissioners and community partners to help promote the survey; staff estimated it would take a couple of months to collect responses and that the survey would be available by the end of April.