Agenda - 04-16-1996 - X-A - Laserfiche WebLink

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_ _ 7 4 focus on changes likely to achieve substantial cost savings or significant operational improvements; and to deliver recommendations to the Board by April 16, 1996. Dan Brummitt was appointed Chair, and Stuart Wallace, Vice-Chair, of the Innovation and Efficiency Committee. Dr. Jack Vogt of the North Carolina Institute of Government served as facilitator for the Committee. In late November the Committee held an organizational meeting. At its second meeting in mid-December, the Committee identified the main areas it wished to explore and organized itself for work in three sub-committees: Organization and Staffing; Purchasing and Facilities; and Technology. The subcommittees met numerous times between December and March to review, analyze, and discuss information that helped them formulate recommended improvements. The subcommittees reported back to the full Committee on a monthly basis concerning the progress and tentative recommendations. The main portion of this report to the Orange County Commissioners consists of the Innovation and Efficiency Committee's recommendations based on the work of its subcommittees. Preamble to Innovation and Efficiency Committee Recommendations Over the past five months, at the direction of the Orange County Board of Commissioners, the Innovation and Efficiency Committee has made a broad evaluation of numerous County services. The Committee's intent is to identify processes that the County may employ to enhance its fiscal position. The Commissioners have stated that they are generally satisfied with the level of services that are provided to our citizens. Our mission, therefore, is to minimize delivery costs while retaining the current quality levels of services. Current Innovation and Efficiency Efforts. As the Committee's process evolved in subcommittee work, it became apparent that County staff was already aggressively pursuing numerous opportunities in the areas of innovation and efficiency. Examples of these include: • Paperless purchasing system _ • Employee incentive programs • Social Services efficiency efforts • Alternative EMS service delivery and financing models • Innovative financing for Triangle SportsPlex We also commend the entire County staff for their support in the broader innovation and efficiency process. Our Committee requested tremendous amounts of information in a relatively short period of time. County staff was most generous with their time and services and contributed greatly to the success of the Committee. Committee Focus. Given the narrow time frame of this review, our Committee focused on actions that may have the highest impact on the budget. We identified items that generally consume the most budget dollars, and we looked for corresponding ways to save money. 2