Purpose: The purpose of the assessment presented below is to determine the level of functioning of communes in the opinion of village heads on the basis of selected aspects such as commune management, the creation of a vision and strategy for the commune, and the introduction of modern management concepts. This assessment will be used at a later stage to formulate directions for further action for the selected communes and the possibility of making changes in specific areas of their functioning. Design/methodology/approach: The research results presented herein are based on surveys conducted in 2021 and 2022 in two rural communes: Janów Podlaski and Przywidz. In addition to the key questions, the survey questionnaire included a summary that included questions related to the length of time a village head has served in this position and the length of time that person has lived in the commune. At present, the results of the surveys are no longer valid in the two communes, but some of the data are included in the parer to show the differences. Conclusions: The results from the surveys provide important information for the local government, which should be used with the aim of improving the functioning of the commune and creating a concept of development in the future of the commune. Research limitations/implications: In the following assessment, the opinions of village heads from two different communes located in different provinces of Poland are contrasted. It is advisable to carry out similar surveys in villages located in one district or province to assess the functioning of the commune from a similar social area. Social implications: The results show a different perspective on the assessment of the functioning of communes from the point of view of village heads, who head villages which constitute communes' auxiliary units. An analysis of their point of view on commune management indicates the need for real change and taking into account the grassroots initiatives of commune residents, rather than top-down local government policies. Originality/value: conducting surveys among village heads to obtain information about the functioning of communes is way to determine an indirect response that comes from the local community. The results of the study should be addressed to the executive and resolution-passing bodies of the commune-level government, which are responsible for the management and functioning of the lowest-level unit of local government.(original abstract)