Moving on...

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?