After preliminary problem identification, mailed questionnaires were sent in April 1981 to citizens (2,000 households) and 735 public officials in eastern Washington to identify and assign priority to five or more rural issues common to the Partnership for Rural Improvement (PRI) geographic region for purposes of forming regional task forces. Public officials returned 72% of their questionnaires, citizens 40%, and PRI participants turned in 65%. Of the 11 predetermined major issue areas, prevention and control of rural crime ranked first, not enough money to provide needed local government services ranked second, and effectiveness of local government ranked third. Other areas and their rankings included community decline (4th), adequacy of management and protection of natural resources (5th), adequacy of recreational opportunities (6th), adequacy of health and medical services (7th), rapid community growth (8th), adequacy of services for senior citizens (9th), adequacy of educational opportunities for adults (10th), and adequacy of cultural opportunities (11th). The study group recommended that a task force investigate and suggest methods to help local government deal with declining revenues, and that a task force be formed to investigate the extent and nature of rural crime in eastern Washington and, if needed, recommend means of responding to identified problems. (BRR)