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| REINVENTING GOVERMENT |
- In 1995, Catawba County Commissioners allowed
some departments to participate in a new and exciting way of conducting
county business - reinventing government. The concepts are similar
to those found in Osborne's book Reinventing Government.
The basic parts of reinventing are:
- Commissioners allocate limited funds to a reinvented
agency based on increases no greater than anticipated county revenue
increases.
- Agency establishes outcomes that have customer
impact, are time-limited, measurable, and achievable.
- If commissioners agree with outcomes, funding
is provided on the limited basis with the Department having increased
flexibility to manage, ie. transfer of funds, addition and deletion
of staff, contracting, etc.
- If agency achieves 90% or more of outcomes and
has generated any surplus as a result of savings, improved productivity,
etc., it may decide on usage of balance. If the outcome achievement
level is below 90%, the Board of County Commissioners reserve
the decision making.
- If the achievement of outcomes is less than 75%,
the agency is no longer considered reinventing goverment.
- As a result of the funds saved, Social Services
has achieved the following:
- Invested heavily in computerization; thereby
improving productivity and service delivery.
- Purchased ergonomically correct furniture to
lessen injuries and other medical conditions, such as carpal tunnel
syndrome and back problems.
- Increased general assistance to needy Catawba
County families
- Increased positions in the Catawba County School
Systems to assist with behavioral and academic problems.
- Improved services for the most difficult children
in foster care.
- Constructed five youth home facilities to insure children who need such care remain in the community.
- Funded 2/3 of the match to complete the expansion
of Social Services offices to allow for greater safety and traffic
control.
- Established Family Builders of Catawba County resulting in 60 children adopted in 2003-2004.
- Helped elderly citizens remain in their homes rather than enter nursing homes.
- Established a Child Advocacy Center to help abused children.
- Established Family N.E.T. to help hurting families and children.
- Provided mandated services without increasing county cost.
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