Dakota County, Minnesota
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
2014 Department Financial Budget Summaries Volume II A premiere county in which to live and work. Dakota County, Minnesota 2014 Adopted Budget Department Name Dept Summary Financial Summary A. Countywide $ B. District Court $ C. Administration D. County Administration $ E. County Board $ F. County Communications $ G. Employee Relations $ H. Community Services Division I. Community Services Administration $ J. Social Services $ K. Employment and Economic Assistance $ L. Public Health $ M. Veterans Services $ N. Community Corrections $ O. Extension Services $ P Public Services and Revenue Division Q Public Services and Revenue Administration $ R. Assessing Services $ S. Property Taxation and Records $ T. Service and License Centers $ U. Historical Society $ V. County Fair $ W. Library $ X. Public Safety Y. Sheriff $ Z. Medical Examiner $ AA. County Attorney $ AB. Operations, Management and Budget Division AC. OMB Administration (History Only) $ AD. Risk Management $ AE. Information Technology $ AF. Financial Services $ AG. Office of Planning and Analysis $ AH. CJIIN $ AI. Physical Development Division AJ. Physical Development Administration $ AK. Transportation $ AL. Soil and Water $ AM. Environmental Resources $ AN. Survey $ AO. Operations Management OM - Parks and Open Space $ OM - Fleet Management $ OM - Capital Planning/Project Mgmt (History Only) $ OM - Facilities Management $ AP. GIS Enterprise $ AQ. CJIIN Enterprise $ AR. Byllesby Dam Enterprise $ AS. Debt Service $ AT. Capital Improvement Program $ 2014 Budget Development – Dakota County, Minnesota County Administration I. Mission Statement II. Description of Services Provided III. 2013 Key Accomplishments and Alignment with Strategic Plan IV. 2014 Anticipated Significant Plans and Issues V. 2014 Recommended Budget Changes I. Mission Statement County Administration is comprised of the Office of the County Administrator and the Office of the County Board. Pursuant to Resolution No. 96-12 (September 24, 1996), the Dakota County mission statement is: “efficient, effective, responsive government.” II. Description of Services Provided Office of the County Administrator County Administration is the executive arm of the County. The County Administrator is responsible for County operations, management, and general supervision over all County institutions and agencies. In concert with appointed department heads and elected officials, this involves the execution of all decisions, policies, ordinances, and resolutions of the County Board and the prudent management of staff and fiscal resources. Office of the County Board The County Board of Commissioners is comprised of a total of seven elected members, each representing separate districts within Dakota County. County Administration staff supports the activities of the County Board and serves as staff to the County Board to prepare agendas, record official Board proceedings, develop policy proposals, assist with constituent services, and provide general support. III. 2013 Key Accomplishments and Alignment with Strategic Plan Goal: County government that leads the way Strategy: Deliver the highest quality services. RBA process improvement and agenda management software: Based on recommendations in the 2012 RBA Process Improvement study, County Administration staff has been coordinating the implementation of process improvements in the preparation of agenda packets and related materials. Specifically, a reference document has been created to D-1 2014 Budget Development – Dakota County, Minnesota assist staff in understanding the purpose of RBAs and to serve as guidelines to write quality RBAs. Dakota County has also entered a contract to purchase agenda management software which will automate what is currently a manual process and will allow for creation and delivery of electronic packets. The software and reference document will be rolled out in 2013 and the department will conduct training for RBA authors. Goal: County government that leads the way Strategy: Deliver the highest quality services. Governance Project: In 2013, County Administration undertook a governance project, internally reviewing Board and advisory committee operating rules, county policies, and citizen advisory committees. Changes to the Citizen Advisory Committee and County Board Operating Rules were adopted in January of 2013. Additional recommendations regarding term limits, term lengths, and residency requirements for citizen advisory committees were also analyzed and presented to the Board at a workshop in May. Goal: County government that leads the way Strategy: Deliver the highest quality services. Review of practices for creating and updating policies: As part of the ongoing Governance Project staff is reviewing our current practices for creating and updating county-wide policies and continues this work throughout 2013. Specific initiatives include criteria to differentiate Board vs. Administrative policies, guidelines for developing a new policy, procedures for implementing a policy and for communicating the content of that policy to relevant staff, and timelines for review of current policies. Goal: County government that leads the way Strategy: Deliver the highest quality services. ICMA Management Fellows: Dakota County continues to be the only jurisdiction in Minnesota to host ICMA Fellows. Recently, Dakota County became a host to the most Fellows historically nationwide. Two fellows currently work for the County- one started in Community Services in June and the second began in County Administration in July. D-2 2014 Budget Development – Dakota County, Minnesota IV. 2014 Anticipated Significant Plans and Issues Goal: County government that leads the way Strategy: Deliver the highest quality services. Agenda management software: It is anticipated that implementation of SIRE Agenda Management Software for Physical Development Committee of the Whole, Community Services Committee of the Whole and Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority will continue into the first quarter of 2014. The implementation of these meetings is being completed by county staff, not the software vendor. Goal: County government that leads the way Strategy: Deliver the highest quality services. Governance Project: The Governance Project will continue forward with legislative lobbying, as approved by the County Board in Fall 2013, to implement as many of the staff-recommended changes to citizen advisory committees as the County Board directs. Staff will continue to work with the County Board to best organize Committees of the Whole and other county committees. Goal: County government that leads the way Strategy: Deliver the highest quality services. Policy initative: In 2014, significant work will be taken to establish a consistent approach to countywide policies, based largely on the Carver framework. The primary effort will be to promote revision of all current policies within two years and a major review of all policies within four years. Evaluating the review process and communication of policy changes will be an important facet of work in the first year to ensure a practical policy revision process continues. Goal: County government that leads the way Strategy: Deliver the highest quality services. Compensation plan: County Administration will work closely with Employee Relations during the implementation of a new compensation structure, as well with the implementation of the county-wide job classification evaluation, beginning with outliers identified in the 2013 compensation study and positions identified by Division Directors. V. Recommended 2014 Budget Changes None. D-3 2014 Budget Development – Dakota County, Minnesota Communications I. Mission Statement II. Description of Services Provided III. 2013 Key Accomplishments and Alignment with Strategic Plan IV. 2014 Anticipated Significant Plans and Issues V. 2014 Recommended Budget Changes I. Mission Statement To proactively inform and engage residents and visitors about the value of Dakota County government and to promote the county as a premier place to live, work and visit. II. Description of Services Provided The Communications Director plans and oversees public information programs for residents and internal County information programs for Dakota County employees. The Communications Director plays a strategic role in supporting the communications needs of the County Board and upper level management throughout the County. The Communications Department supports County Commissioners and staff in providing information to the residents of Dakota County. This support includes: • serving as immediate, primary contact to the media with authority to speak on behalf of the County; providing in-house public relations expertise for the County Board and senior managers; providing media training. • responding to requests for public information and preparing responses to inquiries; responding to reporters’ requests; promoting positive media coverage of Dakota County Government services and the county as a premier destination; preparing commissioners and staff for media interviews; providing short-term and long-term strategic media and external relations advice. • strategically preparing leadership for public perception of decisions. • preparing strategic, long-range County communications plans; establishing and enforcing communications policies. • directing production and distribution of public information materials and methods. • promoting Dakota County services and the quality of life in the county; overseeing informational