Moving on…just one more time, I
promise…OK, maybe it is not my last. Moving on is hard to do!
…it
just seems that this is a widespread apprehension in this chaotic world. This
past week, the Aurora, Colorado incident is just so unbelievable, and what a
difficult Moving On story it will be for so many. I know that we all will be thinking,
praying and moving on with each and every victim’s family, friend and community
member, as much as we possibly can...
I began a new adventure these last
few months, a master plan update for facilities in a large County of
California. In 2008 I completed a similar activity on the same sites with the
same Departments; although this time we are adding a new site. It is amazing to
me how much the County departments have changed in just 4 years. They had to, the
revenue was not there to support the level of 2008, and they have had to move
on with the same excellent service that they have always provided with fewer
staff members. How much did they reduce…staffing levels have fallen in some departments
51%, and overall the average reduction has been nearly 35%. This is a
significant reduction; a total of nearly 800 individuals.
Part of my work is to help the County move
on by helping them determine if, when and how they should plan for the future. My initial task will
be to determine if and when growth will occur and at what level will the
staffing be by the year 2025 and later. This has and will take some research
and investigation. Already I have discovered that the price and the number of
home sales are leveling off in the area, according to citydata.com. If you know California, this could indicate a
significant change in the economy. As you can see by this graph home sales and
prices peaked in 2008 and since that time they have significantly dropped. The stabilization
of home pricing and sales could help to even out County revenues, and if the
trend continues, home sales may increase and this will increase revenue and the
demand for increased County services. However, this is not something that I or
anyone else can accurately predict, with just this information. Another source of data comes from the California
Department of Finance, Demographic Research Unit. This data is current as of
July 1, 2012. They have predicted that by 2025 this County is going to grow by
26%. This is a noteworthy increase, but what does it mean for the growth of
County Departments? This is now my challenge. Once determined then I will be
able to estimate growth in the departments, and start the updating process for
the master planning of the sites.
This
County has managed and planned very well. The master plan update that I have
started is just one example of making sure that while moving on the County is looking
at the future. Convenient services are demanded by us citizens’, yet we don’t want
government to grow. I will be asking and answering questions of how does the
County serve faster growing Cities without increasing staffing significantly? And
what services are needed in these communities? And important to planning in today’s
cost conscious environment, can the County consolidate services in a location
and decrease overall County facility use?
I
initially started this blog with the Moving On theme only because I was in need
of Moving On myself, but what I have discovered during the last few months is
that Moving On is a theme so many of
us experience so many times in life. The County government that I’m assisting
faced a huge challenge in 2008-2009. The reduction in staff affected not only
those who were directly employed by the County, but as well their families,
friends and the overall community. Today, four years after my first experience with
this County, we plan for the next 10-15 years. What is ahead, and how should we
plan for the future?
I think my
next post may change from Moving On to Moved
On! As this is what we all do, right?
