Proposal Brief County Governace Structure Discussion Mar 16 2022 (2)

Home Browse Search

“…investing executive authority in professional management shielded from direct political interference should yield more effectively managed cities.” Further, when discussing organization-wide efficiency initiatives aimed at streamlining systems and reducing cost, “In our experience, a four-year program of designing and implementing an efficiency program is not an unreasonable timeframe; it may take longer to fully realize all the projected savings.” For our long-term aspirations of a leaner county government able to strategically deliver services, it is imperative that longevity and consistency is achieved at the top level. For that to occur, this report directly points to an investment in professional administrative leadership. A professional manager is responsible for ensuring the priorities of the board are resourced and executed appropriately. Professional County Management (appendix 3) published by the International City/County Manager Association identifies the following values that a county manager offers: • Work in partnership with elected officials to develop sound approaches to community challenges by bringing together resources to make the right things happen and produce results that matter • Bring a community-wide perspective to policy discussions and strive to connect the past and future while focusing on the present. They help the governing body develop the long-term vision for the community that provides a framework for policy development and goal setting • Promote ethical government through commitment to a set of ethical standards that goes beyond those required by law • Encourage inclusion and build consensus among diverse interests (including those of elected officials, the business community, and citizens) by focusing on the entire community rather than the centralized interests of one or two individuals • Promote equity and fairness by ensuring that services are fairly distributed and that administrative decisions (such as hiring and contracting) are based on merit rather than favoritism • Develop and sustain organizational excellence and promote innovation. Professional managers focus relentlessly on efficient and equitable service delivery, policy implementation, and evaluation. They align the county’s administrative systems with the values, mission, and policy goals defined by the community and elected officials. So, is this the right choice for Kittitas County? This is a landmark decision point, and it is important for this Board to consider it in the most informed way possible. Critical examination must be made of county policies and procedures an initial step to any path forward. Of utmost importance is review of budgetary process and personnel management in its present form with recommended amendments developed for commissioner approval. The shifting of personnel evaluation, recruitment and termination to an appointed position will be especially challenging, but a high level of opportunity exists for organizational improvement through building a culture of high performance, standardized processes, and common standards. From a financial perspective, this Board has already discussed the need for more strategic budget practices and the shift from line-item review to a higher-level resource allocation method. For both of these objectives to be achieved, significant analysis must be completed, and findings returned for board review.