Tax and Bond Measure Support

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Social media as a powerful tool to build trust and support around upcoming tax and bond measures. The key is to move beyond one-time posts and instead develop a clear, consistent, and community-focused messaging strategy.

Here’s how to do it effectively:

✅ 1. Start Early with Transparent Messaging

Don’t wait until the month before the vote. Begin at least 6-months in advance by explaining why the measure is needed, what it will fund, and how it impacts local residents. Transparency is essential for building public trust.

✅ 2. Use Short-Form Video to Tell the Story

Social platforms prioritize short videos over text or static graphics. Use video to spotlight community needs, feature local residents, and explain the benefits in plain language. For example, a 30-second clip showing how the bond will fix roads or improve school facilities can be more persuasive and reach far more people than a flyer or mailer.

✅ 3. Highlight Real People and Real Impact

Voters connect with faces, not facts. Interview staff, parents, or business owners who support the measure. Show what success looks like — and what happens if it fails. Authentic, people-centered content performs best.

✅ 4. Proactive Outreach over Defensive Comments 

Rather than trying to correct negative comments, create positive content that people want to share with their neighbors. This gives you a strategic advantage, builds authentic credibility, and helps neutralize misinformation.

✅ 5. Empower The Community to Share Your Story 

Equip trusted voices in your community — busness owners, local boosters, content creators that live in your town — with approved video content, messaging, and visuals so the campaign spreads virally and organically. 

Effectively communicating a local tax increase or bond measure on social media requires more than a single announcement — it demands a clear, empathetic, and strategic approach tailored to the platforms your community actually uses (and that isn't just Facebook!).

Here’s what works:

🎯 1. Focus on the “Why,” Not Just the Numbers

People rarely get excited about percentages — but they care deeply about what those dollars will do. Use social media to show the real-world benefits: safer roads, better schools, cleaner parks, upgraded emergency services. Translate the budget into impact.

🎥 2. Lead With Relatable, Short-Form, "Shareable" Video

Today’s algorithms reward authentic, short-form video. A 45-second reel of a firefighter talking about outdated equipment or a parent explaining how school repairs will help their kids carries far more weight than a colorful Canva post with static bullet points.

💬 3. Break It Down, One Post at a Time

Don’t overwhelm. Use a series of posts to cover key topics. Keep your tone clear, respectful, and accessible — no complex jargon. Make it as human and relatable as possible! 

🧠 4. Anticipate Pushback with Prepared Messaging

Plan ahead for common concerns or misinformation. Prepare video-first responses that are factual, personal, and community-centered. Getting into a comment battle with the same-ten-people isn't going to win you a thing. A thoughtful video from a trusted neighbor makes all the difference.

🫱 5. Involve Trusted Community Voices

Residents, business owners, and other concerned parties need to be part of the story. In many juristictions, once your measure is on the ballot, you can't communicate about it - making this one of the most important factors in your strategy! 

CiviSocial isn’t a marketing firm — and that’s exactly why cities and counties trust us first.

We don’t run flashy tax campaigns or manage political messaging. Instead, we do something far more foundational: we help you earn community trust before you ever ask for support.

Here’s how we help:

✅  We Build the Foundation — Not the Campaign

Traditional campaign consultants often show up late in the game, drop in ad dollars, and disappear after Election Day. That’s not our approach.

At CiviSocial, we work with your existing staff to create a trust-building social media strategy. We help your team:

• Tell your community’s story with clarity and heart
• Highlight the day-to-day value of public services
• Lay the groundwork that makes future asks feel earned, not imposed

Founder Sam Toles brings national expertise in storytelling and digital engagement from leading roles at Bleacher Report, Vimeo, and MGM Studios, now focused solely on local government success.

📈 We Have the Results to Prove It

Our approach has delivered real outcomes across the country:

• In Cathedral City, CA, Measure W (a sales tax measure) passed with 74% support in November 2024. We built a customized workshop to teach community advocates how to engage on social media before they ever went to these voters for support. 
• In Plainville, CT, all five bond questions on the June 2025 ballot passed with between 63% and 76% approval, after implementing CiviSocial's storytelling strategy in the months prior.

From California to Connecticut, we’ve shown that when local governments connect with residents early, clearly, and consistently, support follows.

If you're considering an ask of your community to invest in their future, they need to believe in you first. CiviSocial helps you earn that belief — not with expensive ads or consultants, but by making your social media strategy authentic, effective, and aligned with the people you serve.