2024
State of the Clerk’s Office Survey
Discover strategies and upcoming trends in municipal meeting management with “The State of the Clerk’s Office” report. The report will contain exclusive insights from clerks across North America on overcoming common challenges like inefficient processes, digital engagement, and seamless document management.
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About the 2024 eScribe State of the Clerk’s Office Survey
Designed in collaboration with the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, this first-ever State of the Clerk’s Office report features results from a survey of 507 current, active clerks and municipal administrators. Respondents hailed from across North America, representing communities in 48 of 50 U.S. states and six of 10 Canadian provinces.
Respondents’ titles varied depending on where they worked. Some examples include City Clerk, Clerk to the Board/Council, Deputy City Clerk, Town Clerk, Village Clerk, County Clerk, or Recorder.
Roughly half of those surveyed have worked in municipal government for more than a decade (48%), while 29% had been in government service for one to five years.
More than half (53%) of the clerks surveyed were from communities with populations of 10,000 or less, and 31% were from communities of 10,000 to 50,000.
Making Public Meetings More Effective
Most clerks surveyed have a relatively straightforward definition of a successful meeting — one in which all agenda items are completed in a timely manner, with action steps taken and clear follow-ups. Achieving those criteria, however, is not so straightforward.
Clerk’s offices face numerous challenges when it comes to ensuring effective meetings.
According to survey respondents, the top five factors ranked as most important to bolstering the effectiveness of public meetings are:
