Public Opinion as an Indicator of the Assessment of the Activities of Local Governments

The article is devoted to the study of public opinion as a key indicator for evaluating the activities of local governments. The relevance of the topic is due to the increased requirements for transparency of governance and civic engagement in the context of digitalization. The purpose of the work is to identify the role of public opinion in improving municipal governance and to develop recommendations for its more effective consideration in managerial decision-making. The research uses methods of analyzing the regulatory framework, opinion polls, comparing successful regional practices, as well as studying data from digital feedback platforms and social networks. The results of the study showed that public opinion serves as an indicator of social stability and management effectiveness, and its monitoring contributes to the adaptation of management decisions to the real needs of the population. The key criteria for evaluating the activities of local authorities are highlighted, including citizen trust, accessibility, transparency, public engagement, and timely decisions. In conclusion, recommendations are formulated to improve the effectiveness of public opinion accounting: activation of feedback mechanisms, use of digital technologies and improvement of citizens' awareness. Considering public opinion can become the basis for improving the quality of municipal governance and public confidence in government.