Highlights
Citywide Performance Reporting in New York City
New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has unveiled a valuable new online tool for performance reporting. This new system was described in this year’s "State of the City" address as “the mother of all accountability tools” and “a Bloomberg terminal for city government.”
The Citywide Performance Reporting (CPR) system provides data for more than 500 of the city’s most critical performance measures, with monthly, quarterly or annual updates as appropriate. The system concentrates largely on measures of outcomes, including more than 200 results-oriented statistics not previously reported. CPR incorporates a standardized reporting format across all agencies and all data types, and provides a single point of access for all users.
It also aggregates data across agencies into "citywide themes," which represent groups of related services such as infrastructure, education, or public safety. CPR features easy downloading of system data, as well as automated forms for user evaluation and feedback. Access the system.
Assessing Performance Harder Than You Think
Brian Friel, a staff correspondent with the National Journal, has written an informative article about assessing program performance. Though the article, "It Ain't Child's Play," relates to the federal government and the Government Performance and Results Act, it also corresponds to state and local governments' attempts to measure results, especially when nonprofits provide the service. Read the entire article.
Help with Performance Reporting Available
Is your government interested in taking the plunge into performance reporting? AGA and GASB can help. Contact Eveanna Barry if you would like someone to visit your entity for a one-on-one consultation.
March 2008 • Volume 2, Issue 2
Measuring Government Performance:
Oregon DOT Offers
Facts At-a-Glance
It may be the most hated agency in any state—the DMV. But in Oregon, residents say they get good to excellent service at a rate of 89.5 percent. You’ll wait in line for about 12 minutes at DMV’s field offices. It takes about 18 days to get a vehicle title, and if you call, you’ll be on hold for 43 seconds or so.
In each case, Oregon’s Driver and Motor Vehicle Services is meeting its goals. The target wait time is 15 minutes at the field offices. The target is 21 days to process a vehicle title transaction, and phone wait times should be 45 seconds or less. In fact, the way DMV provides driver licenses and other services is one of the highest points of customer satisfaction with Oregon’s transportation services, according to a 2007 survey.
These facts can be found easily in the Oregon Department of Transportation’s annual performance report , which tracks 27 performance measures covering four overarching goals: improving travel safety, moving goods and people efficiently, supporting livability and economic prosperity, and providing excellent customer service. —by Christina Camara, AGA. Read more.
AGA's Performance Management Conference Set for Seattle
The Fourth Annual National Performance Management Conference is set for Oct. 27 – 28, 2008 in Seattle. Traditionally, the conference has focused on state and local governments, however this year we are adding a federal track. The early registration rate will remain the same as last year: $395 for AGA members and $450 for nonmembers. Check the AGA website in early April for more details.
Metro Government of Nashville and Davidson County, TN, Receives AGA Recognition
Mayor Karl Dean received AGA's Certificate of Achievement in Service Efforts and Accomplishments Reporting for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County's annual performance report. The presentation at the Nasville City Club was hosted by the AGA's Nashville Chapter on March 6. Deborah Loveless, CGFM, CPA, assistant director, Tennessee Division of Sate Audit, and Ann Collett, CGFM, CPA, president of AGA's Nashville Chapter, presented the award to the mayor. This is the first time Metro has received this award. Congratulations!
Citizen-Centric Reports: Another Tool to Communicate Results
SEA reports are one way to present information about government performance, but some state and local governments are also using four-page Citizen-Centric reports to communicate with citizens. AGA created the citizen-centric reporting program because we believe that government financial information should be provided in forms that are clear and understandable, updated regularly and often, easy to find, and honest in breadth and techncially accurate in detail. The report should not be a public relations piece that glosses over the government's activities.
One report that achieves all these objectives and furthers government accountabliity and transparency is the recently released citizen-centric report from the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council. It is the first DD Council in the nation to complete a Citizen-Centric Report, and it’s the first to do so among government agencies in Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts DD Council joins these communities that have already prepared the reports—state of Oregon; state of Nevada; Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury; Portland, OR; Saco, ME; Tallahassee, FL; Blount County, TN; St. Louis County, MN and the Village of Los Lunas, NM. Learn more about citizen-centric reporting.
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© 2008 Association of Government Accountants