TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hernando Today

First Step Taken To Revamp Government

ADVERTISEMENT

By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: October 24, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - County Administrator David Hamilton Thursday delivered on his promise to streamline county government by unveiling a multi-pronged reorganization plan that would realize a minimum half-million savings after its first year of operation.

With the downturn in the economy and the continued population growth, reorganization is not an option but a necessity, Hamilton stressed.

"We don't have a choice right now," he said.

Hamilton said this proposed reorganization model, to be formally discussed at Tuesday's commission meeting, has proven viable in the two other counties he worked at in Minnesota.

He hopes to implement this year-long realignment plan beginning Jan 1.

Its success hinges on changing the mindset from a traditional-type county government to one that takes advantage of its regional ties to the Tampa Bay region.

And government must switch from its traditional "reactive" mode to one that is "proactive," Hamilton said.

"This is not just rearranging the deck chairs," he said.

The county's population hovers around 165,000, the annual budget is more than $400 million and the government workforce stands at 1,500 people and yet "no comprehensive plan has been put in place to change our organizational structure to accommodate this massive increase in population and services," Hamilton said.

Instead, county officials have added departments and divisions as the population has grown.

That cannot continue, he said.

"Without reviewing the design of how we work, we will be perpetually relegated to continued reaction to issues as they emerge, rather than strategically addressing the issues that arise in the future," Hamilton said.

To that end, Hamilton has proposed forming a "leadership team," designed to replace the system now in place of 26 department heads, including Constitutional officers - not to mention the 50 operating divisions spiraling out from those departments.

"Simply getting this many department heads and Constitutional officers to a meeting to discuss issues is incredibly cumbersome," he said.

The leadership team would pare down divisions, creating more manageable working groups and (presumably) shorter and more productive meetings.

Hamilton said thinning management ranks and redeploying resources should result in a minimum annual cost reduction of $500,000.

One of newly hired Human Resources Director Cheryl Marsden's first priorities will be to develop a policy to transition those managers and officials who will be offered early retirement out of the organization.

Hamilton did not name the managers whose positions are expendable.

Other aspects of Hamilton's reorganizational plan include:

•Creating "feedback loops," where county officials will consistently share information, ideas and concepts.

•Enhanced accountability, where each member of the organization "develops (an) increased appreciation of what each member does" and how he or she fits into the overall organization's needs.

"Baseball teams, such as our highly successful Tampa Bay Rays know this and the results are evident," Hamilton said.

•There will be an increased emphasis on "shared services," resulting in cost savings. For example, the newly structured administrative services with six support functions are proposed to be combined into one division.

•Continued emphasis on customer service. Hamilton acknowledges that "we have heard of a 'disconnect' with the citizens of our county."

He believes that has improved since the contentious budget hearings of last year.

Hamilton said the draft is a work in progress and will likely be tweaked with future meetings. Tuesday is only the kickoff. But he would like to get it started by Jan. 1.

The current status quo "won't continue to work or bring the expected results that the public demands," he said.

The next step is to develop a communications strategy to initiate discussions, suggestions, criticism and revisions of the plan.

Staff meetings are planned for November. Public meetings will be announced shortly.

County Commissioner David Russell called the plan "impressive," and similar to Sheriff Richard Nugent's STARCOM model.

In 2003, Nugent launched STARCOM, which reorganized the county into distinct districts and zones that make for better service delivery.

"This is doable," Russell said. "It's going to take some time to enact but I think it's a really good start on reorganizing the way the county does business."

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT