The City of Milton has been crowned a “National Champion” for its above and beyond, positive transformation in promoting and earning citizens’ Trust in Government.

Announced earlier this week at the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) annual conference, Milton bested fellow finalists from Virginia, Illinois, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania for one of Polco’s Best in Governance Awards. The honors are based on the sentiments of those who matter most – namely, citizens – as demonstrated in the scientific National Community Survey. The survey gathers input from hundreds of communities nationwide using consistent questions about local governments, allowing for meaningful, comparable results. This is why the recognition is also referred to as a Voice of the People award.

This honor reflects years of efforts by Milton’s government to earn the public’s trust through extensive public engagement, commitment to transparency, dedication to offer top-notch service, accessible communications, as well as timely and useful responsiveness. That it comes in the “Transformation” category highlights how Milton continues to build upon the strong foundation of confidence that already exists between residents and their local government.

“This award represents the trust and confidence our residents place in us, which is the foundation of everything we do,” said City Manager Steve Krokoff. “It reflects years of steady, intentional work by our entire organization under the leadership of our Mayor and City Council. Their commitment to transparency, accountability, and responsive governance sets the tone for everything we do. The fact that our residents continue to express growing confidence in their local government is both humbling and motivating. We see it as a responsibility to keep earning that trust every single day.”

In addition to this National Champion distinction, Milton was named a Top Performer – so one of five finalists – in multiple other Best in Governance Award categories. These are:

• Safety (Excellence, Voice of the People)
• Economy (Excellence, Voice of the People)
• Community Design (Transformation, Voice of the People)
• Trust in Government (Excellence, Voice of the People)

Milton was the only community recognized in the two “Trust in Government” categories, indicating it ranked among the best-of-the-best for improvement (i.e., “transformation”) and overall “(i.e. “excellence”).

Mayor Peyton Jamison praised the dedication of both City employees and residents in achieving this recognition.

“I am incredibly proud of the men and women who serve our community and grateful for the residents who partner with us to make Milton the best it can be,” he said. “Trust is built through consistency and collaboration, and this recognition shows that Milton continues to set a national example of how local government and community can work hand in hand.”

People can connect with and get up-to-date information on what’s happening in Milton’s government in multiple ways. These include:

• Regularly check the City’s website (www.miltonga.gov)
• Follow the City’s social media channels (especially its Facebook at www.facebook.com/thecityofmiltonga/), as well as corresponding Police and Fire department pages
• Join its email news distribution list (www.miltonga.gov/emails)
• Attend in-person engagement opportunities, from “open house” workshops to City meetings, information on which is shared on the channels noted above
• Watch videos of public meetings and about significant projects and events (https://www.youtube.com/@CityofMiltonGeorgia)
• Sign-up for text alerts (www.miltonga.gov/notifications)
• Explore its online transparency portal (www.miltonga.gov/transparency), which shows project updates, Strategic Plan program progress, and more