Reconnecting government and community

“Every day I talk to someone who has questions, who doesn’t really understand what we do, and it’s not their fault.”

Those words from Burke County Commissioner Randy Burns perfectly explain the need for the inaugural Burke County Citizens Academy. His statement also acknowledged that the county hasn’t always done the best job of telling its story.

Local government is where the decisions that affect our daily lives the most are made. When residents understand not just the “what” but the “why” behind county decisions, confidence grows. As it stands now, how decisions are made is a mystery to many.

The Citizens Academy will, we hope, unmuddy those waters.

At first blush, there is cause to celebrate that more people than expected signed up for the six-week course. County officials initially planned on 10 people participating and instead received 18 applications. All were selected to be in the inaugural class, which begins Thursday, Sept. 11.

Fantastic … until we did the math. The number of participants equals two-hundredths of 1% of Burke’s population. While having 18 participants in the inaugural Citizens Academy is encouraging, we can — and should — aim higher. We hope so many residents want to participate in the spring session that the county must put people on a waitlist.

We commend the county (and Morganton Public Safety’s Citizens Academy) for their efforts to connect residents with those who serve them.

It’s no secret that civic disengagement has been rising nationwide, and Burke County is not immune. Too many residents remain disconnected from how those choices are made. They see decisions handed down without understanding the deliberation, constraints, or competing priorities behind them.

According to the 2024 NC Civic Health Index, North Carolina ranks 47th in the country when it comes to attending public meetings and 50th in engaging with local public officials. The state’s also below the national average in how many residents frequently discuss “political, societal, or local issues” with friends and family.

We don’t have statistics that drill down to the county level, but our own experience attending public meetings aligns with those state averages.

The Citizens Academy offers a chance to bridge the gap. By spending six weeks learning directly from county leaders, department heads, and staff, participants gain insight into how things get done — and why. That knowledge can empower residents to better engage with their leaders, make informed choices at the ballot box, and advocate for the needs of their communities.

At its core, local government is about partnership — between those who lead and those they serve. The Citizens Academy offers a pathway to strengthen that partnership, fostering a better-informed, more engaged community.

We commend Burke County for its vision in launching this program and encourage residents to step forward when the next opportunity comes. A stronger Burke County begins with residents who understand how their government works — and who feel empowered to shape its future.

If you’ve ever wondered why a road project takes years to complete, how public safety funding is allocated, or what drives economic development decisions, the Citizens Academy is the place to find those answers.

Sign up for the spring Citizens Academy at burkenc.org. An informed community is a stronger community.