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December 9, 2008
Dear Mark:
This has been a tumultuous year, with many historical moments
and major changes in our economic and political landscapes. As I’ve
traveled around the country and talked with many of you, I’ve been struck
by how, as professional managers, we face tremendous challenges and
opportunities in 2009. I want you to know that ICMA is here, and that we
are committed to helping you improve your operations, enhance your skills,
and keep up with the latest local government leadership and management
trends.
We have or are developing a number of resources to help you
navigate these latest challenges. To more fully understand the scope of our
current fiscal situation and how to deal with it, for example, ICMA has
commissioned a research paper in partnership with the Alliance for
Innovation that will analyze previous recessions and highlight the local
government actions that helped alleviate the situation. The paper should be
ready for distribution in early 2009, and we will send you a link to this
valuable resource as soon as it’s available.
During such times as these, we all must make many tough
decisions regarding expenditures. Despite these limitations, participation
in the ICMA Center for Performance
Measurement (CPM) is still one of the most cost-effective investments
your local government can make because it helps you make budgeting
decisions based on solid performance data. For example, a facilities
manager who serves in a mid-size community tells us how he used the
data and other resources of CPM to reduce his energy budget by
approximately $300,000 (10 percent) this year, saving taxpayers' money
in this difficult fiscal climate while furthering the community’s
sustainability goals.
Another great resource that you’ll want to have on hand is What
Works: How Local Governments Have Made the Leap from Measurement to
Management. This new ICMA publication highlights 75 mini case studies
from CPM-participating local governments that have successfully used
performance measurement to save money, improve their operations, and
motivate employees.
To help you develop creative and nontraditional ways to engage
your public libraries in meeting your community’s needs while keeping this
important public facility viable during tough times, we've received support
from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to award several large grants
through the ICMA Public
Library Innovation Grants Program. The program will focus on developing
stronger partnerships between the local government manager and public
librarian, a model we think will create and sustain change and innovation
in our public libraries and our communities. The grants will be awarded in
February 2009. Visit icma.org/publiclibrarygrants
for more information and to apply by January 9.
And because public safety is typically the largest part of a
jurisdiction’s budget, ICMA Consulting
Services has worked with managers across the country to conduct
data-driven operations analyses of police and fire staffing and deployment.
This work has resulted in recommendations that will help local governments
save thousands of dollars and improve productivity.
In 2008, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the
establishment of the first appointed manager’s position in Staunton,
Virginia. In 2009, we will put our 100-year history and expertise as
professional managers to the test as we grapple with these latest
challenges. As your professional association, we are ready to help you meet
those challenges.
I’m providing a link to my
travel schedule for the first eight months of 2009 and look forward to
seeing you at one or more of these meetings. I also look forward to knowing
your thoughts about the challenges ahead; feel free to drop me a line at roneill@icma.org. In the meantime,
here’s wishing you and yours a joyous and safe holiday season!
Bob
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