For Immediate Release s125

MEDIA CONTACT Burke Brennan, Press Secretary Emily Schwarz, Public Information Officer P: 404-371-6305 | M: 678-201-7209 P: 404-371-2809 | M: 404-599-6881

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 30, 2015 DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May Announces Findings of Government Organizational Efficiency Study

DECATUR, Ga. – DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May presented to the Board of Commissioners the findings of a countywide organizational efficiency study. Matrix Consulting Group was hired to analyze departments that report directly to the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operations Officer. The primary goals of the study were to ensure county resources are maximized, that the highest level of service is delivered to citizens, and that the county is fiscally responsible to taxpayers.

Matrix Consulting Group conducted more than 200 interviews with County staff, received 1,500 survey responses from additional staff, and studied multiple counties in Georgia and nationwide for a comparative review. With that information, Matrix identified key strengths and opportunities for improvement in each department and division. The full executive summary and report can be viewed here.

The following strengths of DeKalb County’s government operations were identified:

 A commitment in public safety to provide the highest possible service to the community and safety to residents and businesses through effective management of police, fire, emergency medical and emergency communications services. These efforts include intelligence-led policing, an innovative concept that many communities talk about but few have implemented as DeKalb has.

 An emerging commitment to effective infrastructure management and change in the way important and costly assets are managed in the County. This is demonstrated by the County’s Fleet Management Division.

 Extremely high levels of customer service in “community services,” i.e. Library, and Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Affairs services. These services are structured and evaluated by staff and community continually.

 Facilitating and supporting permit applicants in community and economic development is valued as key to the long term financial health of DeKalb.

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 Useful performance management data is imperative for County leadership, so that managers can monitor operations and services.

 In many infrastructure and administrative areas, the County can take a more proactive stance. In infrastructure services, asset condition and maintenance data should be implemented to facilitate a higher level of proactive service to the community. In administrative services, customer service and efficiency of business is inconsistent.

 The critical functional areas of “community services” and “administrative services” should have a high level manager in County leadership. This will improve the representation of these services to the Board of Commissioners and to the public as well as the ability to draw these services together in a common approach to effective management and customer service.

 The County should analyze areas of Public Safety and other departments regarding “over management” and how to streamline positions and operations. Departments should perform a comprehensive work force evaluation in which the classifications of positions are justified by the levels of responsibility.

 The County should implement a single County manager responsible for customer service commitments, policies, tracking, training and monitoring. Led by an enhanced County leadership team, improved and consistent customer service is essential.

 Throughout the past five years, the County has struggled to play “catch up” due to the cumulative effects of positions lost since the onset of the 2008-2009 recessions. Early retirements wiped out much of a generation of institutional knowledge and budget cuts affected the County’s service capacity.

With these recommendations in-hand, high priority next steps for County leadership include the development of a comprehensive implementation plan and performance management system.

A second part of the report will analyze the potential impacts of municipal annexations and incorporations and will be issued at a later date.

Updates on the improvements stemming from the study will occur periodically during Committee of the Whole meetings, conducted on the first and third Tuesday of the month, beginning at 9 a.m. at Manuel Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, GA 30030. The meetings are broadcast live and can be accessed on a computer or mobile device via the County’s news source, DCTV’s website. Information will also be posted in the County’s newsroom and Twitter updates can be found at @ItsInDeKalb as these improvements are implemented.

DeKalb County is Georgia’s third largest county, with more than 700,000 residents calling it home. Known for its business and education hub, growing international community and natural wonders, DeKalb County Government is administered by Interim Chief Executive Officer Lee May and legislative policy is set by a seven-member Board of Commissioners.

Follow news from DeKalb County at @ItsInDeKalb on Twitter and sign up for additional updates at www.onedekalb.com or send a text message with the word ONEDEKALB to 22828 (message and data rates may apply).

DeKalb County Office of Communications | Manuel J. Maloof Center | 1300 Commerce Drive, 6th Floor | Decatur, GA 30030