Every other year, Hillsborough conducts a community survey to gauge and assess residents’ satisfaction with town services and to help set priorities for the town. The town’s biennial survey is underway this fall, which mayor Tom Stevens says is taken “very seriously.”
“It is important,” says Stevens. “It also does address places where we’re weak, and there is time for comments. We take those things very seriously.”
The survey will ask residents their level of satisfaction and priorities for various community services, ranging from public safety and code enforcement to parks and recreation and public works.
The mayor says he was pleased with not only the content of the last survey’s responses, but also with the unprecedented return rate. According to Stevens, Hillsborough received feedback on 70% of surveys sent.
“It was really significantly above what we have normally seen, and as well with the responses,” he says. “Not that we don’t get negative feedback as well, and certainly that’s helpful too.”
Stevens credit’s the towns award-winning communications office for this remarkably high return rate.
Surveys were scheduled to be delivered to town residents by mail by the end of October. Results will be discussed at a Hillsborough Board of Commissioners meeting later this year and placed on the town’s website.
Related Stories
‹
![]()
Hillsborough: Chantal Recovery, ICE in the Triangle, and Holiday EventsHillsborough Mayor Mark Bell discusses an upcoming town board meeting, ongoing storm recovery, and future holiday events.

French Manufacturer Shares Plans to Relocate U.S. Operations to HillsboroughGov. Josh Stein’s office shared the French manufacturing company CITEL is planning on relocating its U.S. business to Hillsborough and will invest $12.5 million in the project.

Thanksgiving Holiday to Affect Local Government Services in Orange County (2025)Thanksgiving will fall on Thursday, November 27 this year, and the holiday will affect several local government services around the Orange County community. Here’s a rundown of what residents can expect: Town of Chapel Hill Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28 are both town holidays. Residential trash collection will not be affected. However, there […]
![]()
Hillsborough: ICE in The Triangle, Plate Readers, Community EventsHillsborough Mayor Mark Bell spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Tuesday, November 18, discussing town news and events. He talked about reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers being in Hillsborough. He also clarified the town's use of license plate reading technology, previewed some upcoming community events, and more.
![]()
Hillsborough: Veterans Day, Cold Weather, UPROAR Art InstalledHillsborough Mayor Mark Bell spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Tuesday, November 11, discussing town news and events. He discussed Veteran's Day, and his participation in an Orange County event earlier in the day. He also discussed cold weather shelters and a food distribution event from last weekend. He talked about the installation UPROAR art in the town's sculpture garden, and more.

Orange County to Host Emergency Food Distributions This Weekend for Local SNAP RecipientsFor residents who rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Orange county will host food distributions this weekend.

Hillsborough Commissioners Kathleen Ferguson and Robb English Retain Board SeatsThe two commissioners will retain their seats on the board after being re-elected. Both candidates ran in uncontested races.
![]()
Hillsborough: Reelection Night for Mark Bell, Reaction to Plate Reader CancelationHillsborough Mayor Mark Bell spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Tuesday, November 4, discussing town news and events. He discussed election day in Hillsborough, which will result in his election to a second term as mayor as he is running unopposed. He discussed what he is proud of and what lessons he learned during his first term. He also discussed his vision for Hillsborough during his second. He also shared positive feedback he's heard since the board voted to cancel their contract with Flock Safety, and more.
![]()
Hillsborough: Cancelling License Plate ReadersHillsborough Mayor Mark Bell spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Tuesday, October 28, discussing town news and events. He recapped the town board of commissioners meeting from Monday night, which saw the board go into closed session to discuss their contract with Flock Safety, who they had contracted to install video license plate readers in town. The board decided to cancel the contract, which they did in open session after concluding the closed session. He discussed the rationale for that choice and the process. He also recapped the River Park Concert, and more.

Town of Hillsborough Cancels Contract for License Plate Reader CamerasThe Town of Hillsborough has cancelled a contract with the company Flock Safety for 10 license plate reader cameras around the community, it said in a release Tuesday. The announcement comes after the town’s Board of Commissioners held a closed session Monday night to discuss “data privacy concerns” related to the cameras. Earlier in the […]
›