County recognized as a finalist for three Best in Governance Awards

Input from Los Alamos County residents in the 2024 National Community Survey (NCS) has placed the County among the top finalists nationwide in Polco’s 2025 Best in Governance Awards for Voice of the People in the Natural Environment category. The County was also recognized as a top finalist for Transformational Improvement in both the Economy and Community Design categories, reflecting significant increases in satisfaction since the 2022 survey.

More than 600 local governments across the country participate in the National Community Survey (NCS) each year, which measures resident perspectives on livability and governance. The NCS combines scientific methodology with actionable reporting to provide insights into the needs and preferences of the community and benchmarks responses against other local governments nationwide. The Best in Governance Awards draw from this robust dataset, along with national indicators from Government Performance Action and Learning (GPAL), to highlight communities that excel in sustainability, resilience, and quality of life.

In the 2024 National Community Survey, 94% of Los Alamos residents rated the community’s natural environment as “good” or “excellent,” followed by additional high marks in cleanliness, air quality, preservation of natural areas, access to open space, recycling, and yard waste services.

Los Alamos County joins the City of Ann Arbor, Mich.; City of Clive, Iowa; City of Snoqualmie, Wash.; and Town of Telluride, Colo. as finalists for environmental excellence.

In addition to its leadership in the Natural Environment, Los Alamos County was also named a top finalist for Transformational Improvement in both the Economy and Community Design categories, demonstrating an improvement of 14% and 13%, respectively, since the 2022 survey.

“While our overall scores in these two areas remind us there is still room to improve, I’m encouraged to see that we’re moving in the right direction,” County Manager Anne Laurent said. “We know we’re not where we want to be yet, but this reflects progress, a community that’s willing to grow, and dedicated staff committed to making Los Alamos better.”

Each year, Polco’s Best in Governance Awards recognize local governments not only for earning the highest ratings from their residents, but also for demonstrating the greatest improvement over time. Categories include trust in government, education and arts, community connection, parks and recreation, resident engagement, health and wellness, mobility, safety, economy, community design, natural environment, and utilities.

Los Alamos County Manager Anne Laurent standing with Tobin McKearin, COO of POLCO in celebration of Los Alamos County placing among the top finalists nationwide in Polco’s 2025 Best in Governance Awards at the ICMA Conference this October.