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15 <br />the context of a mission statement for Orange County automation, and based on a number of <br />underlying principles, which would include: <br />a) Focus first on internal service departments (Personnel, Purchasing, Finance) that <br />directly impact all employees, so that each employee has a stake in automation. <br />b) Encourage and seek interdepartmental collaboration. <br />c) Use electronic mail to enhance efficiencies, such as transmission of agenda items. <br />d) Recognize and exploit the potential for automation to expand communications with <br />Orange County citizens. <br />e) Emphasize decentralization of expertise, where appropriate, and develop policies <br />that promote user initiative and decision - making, within established parameters. <br />f) Pursue a computer literate workforce with training in -house for standard uses. <br />g) Identify benchmarks to test hardware and software technology requests, so that <br />hardware and software outside the pre - determined County standard are fully <br />evaluated and exceptions made to these standards on a case by case basis. <br />h) Allow flexibility in departmental budgets for reallocation of resources to purchase <br />minor hardware and software. <br />i) Establish a replacement policy, with an underlying rationale, to address (for <br />example) obsolescence. <br />j) Encourage and seek collaboration with other governments, especially schools. <br />Use of automation to promote efficient, effective and innovative services to its citizens should <br />be an integral part of Orange County's mission. To that end: <br />a) Every position will undergo systematic and periodic review of its functionality to <br />automate manual tasks which reduce time available for services to citizens. <br />b) Position appropriate technology will be made available to each employee. <br />c) A computer literate workforce will be developed. <br />d) Automation needs will be assessed when constructing or leasing office space. <br />e) A strategic plan for automation will be developed. The plan will list the steps <br />necessary to achieve the goals of this mission statement. The plan will be reviewed <br />regularly with regard to implementation and changes in technology. Modifications <br />will be made to the plan as appropriate. <br />Recommendation 9: Limit the funding amount distributed to outside agencies excluding <br />pass - through grant funds, funds to other government agencies [such <br />as libraries] and /or State /Federal mandated programs. <br />Actual expenditures for outside agencies in 1993 -94 were $1,920,051. The Board of <br />Commissioners' approved budget for 1995 -96 is $2,268,149. This represents a 16 percent <br />increase. Budgets for county operating departments have increased 3-4 percent over this same <br />period. <br />Funding for outside agencies should be managed in the following manner: <br />8 <br />