ATTA Challenges County Government - It's time to Follow Through on Good Ideas

The Albemarle Truth in Taxation Alliance (ATTA) has been advocating for county government to identify and implement operational efficiencies and more careful capital expenditures. Better stewardship of tax revenues contributed by taxpayers leads to more responsible government.

ATTA has publicly recognized the Albemarle County School Board for conducting its Resource Utilization Review and paying heed to its results. ATTA is encouraged by the preliminary work being done by the School Board to implement the report's recommendations.

ATTA has repeatedly recommended that general county government should conduct a similar review and follow its recommendations. ATTA is encouraged at the growing support within the Board of Supervisors for such a review:

• Ken Boyd has been pushing for years for the county to perform a comprehensive evaluation of its budgeting process.
• Dennis Rooker (WINA, April 3, 2008) "... (we are) continuing to do a thorough look at the budget for efficiencies. I think that there will be momentum for the Board to do an efficiency study much like the Resource Utilization Study that schools just completed."
• David Slutzky indicated on (WINA, April 7, 2008) that he would support the county doing a similar exercise as the School Board has done.

It appears that we only need the support of one more supervisor to move forward.

ATTA suggests the following actions:

The School Division should continue its study and implementation of the findings in its Resource Utilization Study by doing the following:

• Identify each cost saving measure or change suggested by the Resource Utilization Study that are under consideration.
• Provide a timeline to the public for the analysis and implementation of each measure.
  As each of the measures move to implementation, publish estimated savings or cost additions to the school division for yearly operating or future capital expenditure.

Local Government, in the absence of a more comprehensive program, should continue its current Programs and Service Review initiative. The goal of this program is a 10% reduction in operating expenses, as targeted in the budget manual. However, optimum results would be achieved with commission of an outside group to conduct a 'Resource Utilization' type study, similar to that conducted by the School Division. This professional approach would provide:

• A thorough knowledge of government "best practices" and appropriate "benchmarks" to ensure that Albemarle County programs are both effective and efficient.
• A disciplined approach to the measurement of service levels, for example if 1.5 police offices per 1,000 population is a the objective standard, what can our citizens expect in specific benefits in terms of reduced crime, higher conviction rates etc.
• Thinking that is creative and innovative in recognition of opportunities.
• Clearly identified cost savings and a time line for implementation of more effective and efficient government.

In this way, the Board would continue to make progress immediately with its current Program and Service Review initiative, and then merge those efforts into a more comprehensive "Resource Utilization" activity.

ATTA challenges the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors to show its commitment to more responsible government today. While the tax rate is an important issue, how we get there is more important. It's time to change the process. It's time for the Board to demonstrate its commitment to efficient government and effective use of taxpayer's money.

Dennis Rooker (WINA, April 3, 2008): "Part of our job is to make sure the county operates like a business, to make certain that it's efficient."

It's time to stop talking; it's time to start acting.

There is no more blood in the turnip. There is no more tolerance in the taxpayer.

We call on county government to do what is right.