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GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD (GASB)
PRINCE
WILLIAM COUNTY, VA
Prince
William County emphasizes accountability, according to the author. Their
first citizen survey was conducted in 1993 and their first SEA report was
produced in 1995. They situate their measurement effort in the context of
managing-for-results. To formulate the county’s strategic plan, citizens,
elected officials, and staff are all involved. After consensus, the plan
goes to the County Planning Commission for “coordination with the planning
process” and then to the Board of Supervisors for approval. They claim
there is a lot of buy-in into the process.
Items of
note include:
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Citizen
surveys show that over 90% of residents have been satisfied with
services every year since 1993. There are reasonable levels of
satisfaction with the manner in which government disseminates
information.
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Police and
Social services programs are particularly interested in what the citizen
survey says about how they are providing services.
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There is a
quarterly citizen’s newsletter, “Prince William Reports.”
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The 2000
strategic plan identifies several strategies for enhancing communication
with the public. Strategies include: improved dissemination of
information; network and share reports and studies from other
jurisdictions; review audit findings and provide implementation
recommendations; add schools, parks, service authority, solid waste
disposal, transportation, administration boards and commissions, and
other expenditure areas to the SEA report; incorporate activity-costing
into the annual fiscal plan; establish an efficiency program; develop
methods to survey citizens about specific programs and activities.
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Citizens
are involved in social services programs and the outcome selection
process.
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The county
libraries have boards completely comprised of citizens.
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The
citizen survey is an important part of the SEA report and the annual
budget process.
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Interviewees cited the existence of extensive satisfaction data for
different areas of government.
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Twenty
three percent of respondents to the annual citizen survey indicated that
they had visited the county’s web site.
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Some
high-ranking officials feel that performance information is not
published unless the information is negative.
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The
consensus among officials is that measurement efforts have been
successful in terms of establishing accountability and communication
with the public.
Local Governments:
Austin, TX;
Multnomah County, OR;
Portland, OR;
Prince William County,
VA;
Tucson, AZ;
Phoenix, AZ; Winston-Salem, NC;
Catawba County, NC;
Dayton,
OH;
Coral Springs, FL;
Long Beach, CA;
Ramsey County, MN
State Governments:
Arizona,
Illinois,
Iowa,
Louisiana,
Oregon,
Texas
Background Information:
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