USA Strategics

Local Government Innovation: Ideas from the UK

11/6/2013

Managing the persistent local government structural gap between revenue and cost is not confined to the U.S. In Great Britain, a national effort is underway to get the input of just about anyone willing to share their ideas and opinions on how to keep local government alive and operating. The key themes are also very familiar. Who knows-- maybe we should be reaching "across the pond" to our friends and allies who are also trying to figure out a new way forward. See if any of these "asks" from abroad ring a bell:

The Taskforce is particularly interested in hearing about any of the following innovations:

Place-based budgeting
Prevention
Integration
Demand management
Savings and efficiencies
Income generation
Local empowerment and participation
Community capacity and resilience.

For the full article, go here: http://www.lgiu.org.uk/2013/10/17/the-labour-partys-local-government-innovation-taskforce-launches-call-for-evidence/

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ACA IMPACTS ON GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATION

11/6/2013

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Setting political opinion aside, there appears to be a growing national movement in local government and education in personnel management related to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Cities, counties, and all levels of schools from K-12 districts to universities are cutting back employee hours around the country to help manage the economic impacts of the ACA.

The long term question -- as usual-- is what will this mean to the quality and levels of service in our local institutions. Will this be a manageable adjustment and will it continue to drive creativity around the topic of collaboration, consolidation, innovation, and partnership?

Here is a view and national list from the investment press.

http://news.investors.com/politics-obamacare/110513-669013-obamacare-employer-mandate-a-list-of-cuts-to-work-hours-jobs.htm

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COURTS CRISIS NO MYTH

9/29/2013

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In states where the courts operate as a unified system, there are likely fewer structural problems and a more nimble administrative structure to adjust to the relentless economic challenges. Is a unified system the answer? No, nothing is ever the absolute solution. But as financial pressures continue to diminish the quality of and access to justice, some states and jurisdictions should begin to more aggressively explore all avenues for relief, including unification.

The National Center for State Courts recently published an overview of the crisis on a national scale and offers some thinking on possible collaboration and consolidation ideas for any court system looking for some form of relief.

1.Centralize and regionalize court functions and operations where possible
2.Identify all functions that can be automated and automate them to the maximum
3.Systematically apply case management, which may require overhauling the
current system
4.Maximize the number of transactions that can be completed online
5.Reorganize the back office from top to bottom
6.Redistrict and redefine jurisdiction and venue

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DEMOLISHING DETROIT: A VIABLE STRATEGY?

9/27/2013

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Michigan's Governor Rick Snyder announced $300 million in financial aid from from federal, state, and private foundations in the campaign to resuscitate the bankrupt city of Detroit. The small infusion of funds is expected to be used for improving transit and making "blight improvements."

The effort represents a unique strategy designed to accelerate revitalization efforts by simply tearing out vacant buildings. Noted as a process of "creative destruction," the hope is that new people, new enterprise and investment, new buildings, and modern transit will attract young people and start-ups to an affordable major market with plenty of open spaces to build into a new future.

Will history, tradition, and architecture go the way of the bulldozer, or does anyone really care when your town is over $18.5 billion in the hole? In the last 60 years, the city has lost over 60% of its population, down to around 700,000 from over 1.85 million in 1950.

The effort could generate a scalable model for small U.S. cities also finding themselves irretrievably frozen in the past.

To read more on this topic..... use this link http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-27/obama-set-to-deliver-320-million-to-aid-bankrupt-detroit.html

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The risks and rewards of police consolidation

12/10/2012

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Closing down a 100+-year-old police department in a small community is a difficult decision. It stirs emotions and creates doubt and mistrust. And myths and rumors can get in the way of facts and clear decision-making. The City of Snohomish, Washington experienced all this during 2010 and 2011, finally emerging from this process with a stronger police department, no layoffs, and more than $2 million in five-year savings. Today, these resources are being repurposed to keep parks open and preserve quality-of-life services.

Click on these links to read more:

>Read KING5 News

>Read article in the Herald News

Contact Snohomish Mayor Karen Guzak, Councilmember Tom Hamilton, City Manager Larry Bauman, or Sheriff John Lovick to talk to them about their experience-- they can share the ups and downs with you.

Mayor Karen Guzak—360.568.1000
Council Member Tom Hamilton—206.679.3731
City Manager Larry Bauman-- 360.282.3154
Sheriff John Lovick-- 425.388.3393

Read the USA Strategics Report story and interviews with these officials. Go to the archives and get a copy now.

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Local Government Innovation: Ideas from the UK

ACA IMPACTS ON GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATION

COURTS CRISIS NO MYTH

DEMOLISHING DETROIT: A VIABLE STRATEGY?

The risks and rewards of police consolidation

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