Information Meeting With Standard

1
MEETING AGENDA September 7, 2006

• Review and approval of minutes
• Subcommittees
• review of proposal for organizing work
• discuss potential for consolidation
• refining charges, assignments
• Committee path forward in anticipation of
  subcommittee work

2
TASK FORCE SUBCOMMITTEE 1
Use and realignment of County assets Goals/Charg
e Assess the range of county services and
facilities with operating and capital costs,
benefits, and options for outsourcing or
otherwise changing the delivery of services or
operation of county facilities. Identify
potential and viable options for savings from
restructuring or alternative use of county assets
and service provision. Develop balance sheets
and expense structure of current operations and
evaluate alternatives. Scope/Specific
Issues Carousel Rockwood Golf Courses Other
County facilities with operating expenses Other
business lines with revenues (e.g. Sports and
Recreation) County service expansions and program
evaluations
3
USE AND REALIGNMENT OF COUNTY ASSETS

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USE AND ALIGNMENT OF COUNTY ASSETS

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USE AND ALIGNMENT OF COUNTY ASSETS

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TASK FORCE SUBCOMMITTEE 2
System for compensating county employees Goals/C
harge Benchmark practices and costs against
government (and private sector where equivalent
jobs exist) peers the pay and benefit structure
of County employees. Provide list of
alternatives with cost estimates to reduce or
better manage the growth rate in personnel costs
(8.81 on average from 1996-2006). Scope/Specific
Issues Benchmarking of personnel/staffing
levels---growth in staffing and staffing levels
in various areas, length of work
day/productivity (units of work per hour) Merit
Steps and Performance Review System Benefit
structure, costs, and contribution levels Average
Salaries/Total Compensation Compared for Key Job
Classes (cops, 911, public works, librarians,
land use) Potential need for consulting services
on salary/compensation comparisons
7
EMPLOYEE COSTS HEADCOUNT GROWTH
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EMPLOYEE COSTS HEADCOUNT GROWTH
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WAGE AND BENEFIT GROWTH
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COMPENSATING COUNTY EMPLOYEES
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FUTURE COST OF CURRENT WORKFORCE
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COMPENSATING COUNTY EMPLOYEES
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BENEFIT COST BREAKDOWN
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BENEFIT COST BREAKDOWN
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COMPENSATING COUNTY EMPLOYEES
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TASK FORCE SUBCOMMITTEE 3
The fairness and adequacy of our property tax
system especially as it relates to assessment,
exemptions, and revenue growth limitations Goals
/Charge 1) Reassessment fairness and adequacy
of the system of property taxes 2) Exemptions
a) current and future cost of current exemptions
b) benchmark against other governments.
Recommend changes to property tax assessment
or exemption practices to increase growth rate in
county revenues from property taxes to align with
inflation in cost of county services.
Scope/Specific Issues Reassessment---cost,
policy and operational consideration, alternative
methods/approaches, county vs. statewide,
schools vs. munis Exemption programs---current
cost and policies, demographic and fiscal
projections going forward, effect on
distribution of cost of service and revenues to
support (quantifying redistributive affects
and relative wealth of households to pay and
receive services), sewer vs. property taxes
exemptions Other Assessment/Property Tax issues
farmland assessment standards, cable
exemption in light of competition
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FAIRNESS AND ADEQUACY OF PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM

See Pages 72-73 in the Fiscal Year 2007
Comprehensive Annual Budget Summary (book
provided at last meeting or available online at
http//www.nccde.org/countyfinances
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FAIRNESS AND ADEQUACY OF PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM

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TASK FORCE SUBCOMMITTEE 4
County's revenue portfolio and fees for
service Goals/Charge Assess the countys
revenue portfolio for adequacy and
diversity compared to other jurisdictions.
Assess level of fees in comparison to surrounding
jurisdictions. Develop recommendations for
regular assessment and realignment of direct
fees for service and bolstering the diversity and
growth in county revenues to bring the growth
rate more in line with the economic growth and
demand for County services. Scope/Issues (Over)
Reliance on real estate property taxes, transfer
tax Growth rate and diversification of
county/municipal revenues Alternate revenue
sources available to surrounding county
governments Set targets/triggers for revenue,
expenditure policy Look at rules governing
appropriations and revenues (e.g. 98 limit vs.
attrition policy, revenue estimation process)
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COUNTY REVENUE PORTFOLIO AND FEES

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SIGNIFICANT REVENUE CHANGES

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COUNTY REVENUE PORTFOLIO AND FEES

Handout Analysis of County Government
Expenditures and Tax Burdens in Delaware (1999,
Barents Group) Last Study of Relative Revenue
and Expense for County Governments
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TASK FORCE SUBCOMMITTEE 5
The efficiency and effectiveness of county
programs and services Goals/Charge Assess
Countys current performance benchmarks and
identify best practices benchmarks and efficiency
measures for key county services.
Develop proposed citizens survey or annual
scorecard for assessing the efficiency and
effectiveness of County government in core
areas. Scope/Issues Analysis of county
government scorecards for best performance
measures correlated with services provided by
New Castle County Recommendations for next steps
in implementing efficiency and other performance
measures and practices (six sigma,
baldrige) Identification of inefficient or less
efficient business practices and honing role of
County government in delivering vs. overseeing
the delivery of services
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EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS

• Handout
• Survey of Homeowner Satisfaction with Selected
  Public Services Provided within New Castle
  County (September 2000, SRBI)
• County Performance Scorecard Examples
• www.charmeck.org (Managing for Results)
• http//www.governing.com/gpp/2002/gp2intro.htm
  (Government Performance Project Study of
  Counties)
• http//www.floridasterling.com/index.htm
  (Floridas Statewide Baldrige

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TASK FORCE SUBCOMMITTEE 6
How plans for development, the enacted plan for
sewer service in Southern New Castle County, and
redevelopment efforts affect the projected growth
in county revenues and expenses Goals/Charge
Assess and project the contribution of revenues
and expenses for facilities and service from
proposed development in Southern NCC
and redevelopment efforts. Make recommendations
for better aligning growth in county revenues
with the demand for services through changes to
County land use or fiscal policy. Scope/Issues I
nform and participate in development of fiscal
impact tool for use in comp planning process and
fiscal note process for land use development
proposals
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Schedule of Meetings for Task Force

• All meetings from 3-5p.m. at the Government
  Center Executive Conference Room
• September 7 (Thursday), 21 (Thursday)
• October 3 (Tuesday), 17 (Tuesday), 31
  (Tuesday)
• November 9 (Thursday), 21 (Tuesday)
• December 5 (Tuesday), 15 (Friday)