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Seeking Efficiencies in Local Government

Seeking Efficiencies in Local Government. Alan Probst Local Government Specialist Local Government Center UW-Extension. Where to Begin. Roles Goals Questions Unintended Consequences. Understand Your Role. What is your role in identifying efficiencies? Who charged you with this?

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Seeking Efficiencies in Local Government

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  1. Seeking Efficiencies in Local Government Alan Probst Local Government Specialist Local Government Center UW-Extension

  2. Where to Begin Roles Goals Questions Unintended Consequences

  3. Understand Your Role What is your role in identifying efficiencies? • Who charged you with this? • Determine the need • Direct staff to identify areas to consider • Do it yourself • Consultant

  4. Develop Goals Define what you mean by “efficiency” • What is driving the effort? • Strictly money? • Other issues like quality of service, saved staff time, better response times, customer satisfaction • Can you quantify it?

  5. “SMART” Goals Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Timely

  6. Explore Options • Who can we let go should not be the first question asked • Looking at your institutional culture and systems should be done early in the process • Look for options that may not be traditional

  7. Explore Options • Can you be objective? • Avoid “Keeping up with the Jones” mindset

  8. Explore Options Remember Wisconsin counties operate under Administrative Home Rule. In many cases, if it’s not prohibited by Statute, you can do it. You can be innovative

  9. Sample Questions • Can technology make you more efficient? • Are there opportunities for inter-governmental cooperation? • Can it be privatized? • Are there “sacred cows” that are holding you back? • What are others doing to improve efficiency?

  10. Sample Questions • Is what we’re doing actually required or mandated, or is some of what we are doing just what someone thought was a good idea at one time? • How much of what we’re doing is being done “because that’s the way we’ve always done it” (a likely sign of inefficiency)?

  11. Sample Questions • How much is resistance to change affecting efficiency? • Have you asked your staff what can be done to improve efficiency? • Is the board asking the staff for things they don’t need? • Does it have to be on paper or will an electronic format do just as well?

  12. Sample Questions • Should a performance measurement system be instituted? • Does it have to be done immediately or can it be done incrementally?

  13. Understand Unintended Consequences Think through both the potential positives and negatives that may occur as a result of an action to improve efficiency.

  14. Understand Unintended Consequences • Will any action you take in efficiency’s name adversely affect another department? • How will you respond if the idea or initiative results in a negative outcome?

  15. Understand Unintended Consequences • What are the political implications of the action your considering? • Will the action you take seeking efficiency result in degraded services to your constituents?

  16. Understand Unintended Consequences • If you decide to let someone go, can you easily replace them with someone equally qualified if it proves necessary?

  17. Other Sources of Information Other counties Wisconsin Counties Association http://lgc.uwex.edu/ Alan Probst Local Government Center UW-Extension

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