The assumption behind the development of local government is that it should contribute to a broadening dialogue between local authorities and residents. And in fact, such a dialogue is happening in more and more Polish towns and administrative units (gmina) through various kinds of co-operation and through particular programmes that enable residents to participate in decision-making, e.g. public consultations, citizens’ initiatives or participatory budgeting. Initiatives of this type appear to be quite effective and are also considered a success by residents. A majority of people (64%) think that in their town or gmina residents’ opinions are taken into consideration when local authorities take decisions affecting them, although only 8% have no doubt at all that this is the case. A quarter of respondents (24%) say that in their town or gmina the authorities make their decisions without taking residents’ voices into account, and 4% were categorical about this.