Here's something you might be interested in.
The Independent Budget Analyst wants the Mayor's office to be more forthcoming when it comes to Managed Competition.
In a January 5 memo, Independent Budget Analyst Andrea Tevlin knocked the program over the lack of information provided to the City County and to her office, making it more difficult to measure service levels.
To resolve the issue, Tevlin gave 5 recommendations. Program managers took issue with two. The two recommendations requested staff to include five-years of budget and the service levels data for each department.
Today, Tevlin presented the report to the Rules Committee.
Wally Hill, who oversee the Managed Competition program once again voiced concerns about the two recommendations. "Some of the information just may not be readily available," Hill said. "We don't want to distract you from the task of trying to find current service levels. It is somewhat questionable about what the relevance is of service levels five-years ago when determining current service levels."
Hill said trying to do so would slow the process and that revealing budget history could put city employees at a disadvantage.
The majority of committee members disagreed.
"I'm a little concerned that we don't maintain a history of service and budget levels," said councilmember Marti Emerald. "We need to have a system to keep track of those services and how well we are performing. If we don't have then we need to get one as quick as possible."
The committee approved moving the recommendations on to the full city council four votes to one, with councilmember Lorie Zapf voting no.
The Independent Budget Analyst wants the Mayor's office to be more forthcoming when it comes to Managed Competition.
In a January 5 memo, Independent Budget Analyst Andrea Tevlin knocked the program over the lack of information provided to the City County and to her office, making it more difficult to measure service levels.
To resolve the issue, Tevlin gave 5 recommendations. Program managers took issue with two. The two recommendations requested staff to include five-years of budget and the service levels data for each department.
Today, Tevlin presented the report to the Rules Committee.
Wally Hill, who oversee the Managed Competition program once again voiced concerns about the two recommendations. "Some of the information just may not be readily available," Hill said. "We don't want to distract you from the task of trying to find current service levels. It is somewhat questionable about what the relevance is of service levels five-years ago when determining current service levels."
Hill said trying to do so would slow the process and that revealing budget history could put city employees at a disadvantage.
The majority of committee members disagreed.
"I'm a little concerned that we don't maintain a history of service and budget levels," said councilmember Marti Emerald. "We need to have a system to keep track of those services and how well we are performing. If we don't have then we need to get one as quick as possible."
The committee approved moving the recommendations on to the full city council four votes to one, with councilmember Lorie Zapf voting no.