April 2003

Issue 2

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Feature Story

Got GASB 34?

From backroom statisticians to boardroom strategists

Rob Garner, Comptroller, City of Orlando speaks with
Tamara Halbritter, Editor, Municipal Technology Journal
 

Editorial Corner

This Issue: "Don't call them bean counters" and more ...

Our "Feature Story" is in response to a reader request, about ways to approach GASB Statement No. 34.  We asked the Comptroller for the City of Orlando, Rob Garner, to share his practical experience in dealing with this issue.

This month's dilemma is posed by Shari Freidenrich, City Treasurer, Huntington Beach, CA.  She asks for your best advice about how to best get government employees involved in new projects.

Allowing government employees to take home vehicles for their personal use seemed to strike a cord in our readers last month.  Check out the best responses from your peers in the section called "What's Your Best Advice."

Please let me know how successful we are at including articles relevant to your professional life and any specific topics or stories you want to see covered. Thank you for reading MTJ and I look forward to hearing your views. You can win a color Palm Pilot by completing the survey below.

Tamara Halbritter, Editor

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Reader Survey

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Complete our 1-minute reader survey and you could win a free color Palm Pilot.

 

Spotlight

AMX International is the J.D. Edwards Public Services Area Business Partner of the Year for the last four years.

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Associations

Government Finance Officers Assoication (GFOA)

Advancing Government Accountability (AGA)

American Gas Association (AGA)

American Public Power Association (APPA)  

American Water Works Association (AWWA)

California Municipal Utilities Association (CMUA)

International City/County Management Association (ICMA)

Municipal Information Systems Association of Ontario

Municipal Information Systems Association of BC

National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA)

Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA)
 

Friends of MTJ

Accela, Inc.

The Active Network

GBA Master Series

PowerPlan

SymPro, Inc.

TMG Consulting

UtiliPoint International 

Warren B. Causey, Ltd.
 

Events

Metering Americas
May 4-8
Chicago, IL

GFOA 97th Annual Conference
May 18-21
New York, NY

CIS Conference
May 31-June 3
Nashville, TN

2003 MISA
Conference and Trade Show

June 1 - 4, 2003
Ontario, Canada

ICMA’s 2003 Conference
September 21-24
Charlotte, NC

MISA BC Fall 2003 Conference
September 22rd-24th, 2003
The Prince George Civic Centre
Prince George, BC

 

Archives

Issue 1

Sponsors


 

Free Download - RFP Template

"Expectations make the difference between success and failure
of local government's CIS implementation."

Greg Galluzzi - CIS and utility industry expert

Read our interview with Greg

For a free RFP template, click here


 

What Is Your Best Advice?

This Issue's Dilemma:

How do I get my employees involved?

"In what ways does your organization involve employees in the planning, implementation and administration of new technology?"

"In regards to new technology, it's always important to review what other governments and private industries are doing to become more efficient at providing services. At the City of Huntington Beach, like in other local governments, our resources are continuing to shrink. How then, do you find ways to continue to utilize current technology, train employees, and get them to buy into new technology such as new software, without having a huge budget?"

"Do your readers have any suggestions for involving employees in the various stages of an implementation and post-implementation of new software or technology?"

- Shari Freidenrich, City Treasurer, Huntington Beach, CA
 

What Is Your Best Advice?

Share your knowledge with Shari and you could win a color Palm Pilot.


Last Issue's Dilemma:

Local Government Vehicles: Personal Use or Not?

"We are in a debate whether or not to allow employees to take municipal vehicles home or use them outside of work.  Like many debates, there seems to be legitimate reasons for and against such a practice."

"Pros" to taking vehicles home:

  • Employees can go straight to the problem instead of having to report to a central office first

  • In the case of Police/Sheriff's vehicles, they may be a crime deterrent in the neighborhood

"Cons" to taking vehicles home:

  • Additional vehicle wear

  • Vehicles may be needed for other shifts

  • Local government liability during non-working hours

"Your readers probably have some experience with this issue.  Would you ask them what they think?  Does sending municipal vehicles home really make sense, or are we just providing free rentals?"

- Jarod Y., City Manager

[ Read what advice you gave to Jarod ]
 

Service Efforts And Accomplishments (SEA)

Measuring Key Performance Indicators (KPI)

Keeping Political ROI Afloat

Decision making stronger and budget is more visible to public
by Eric Krell, Internet World

 

County Is Packaging and Selling Performance Methods

Radical concept supports time of high demands and tight resources (PDF)
by Richard A. Eckert, Performance Measurement Matters

 

Municipal News

Latest city and county news and views

Speed Ahead on the Two Way Information Highway

Delivering road construction updates online
from American City & County

 

Child Support Goes Online out West

Results in increased caseworker productivity
by Richard Quillin, CIO for New Mexico Human Services - Government West

 

Technical Innovation

Streamline processes and improve services

Delivering Broadband and Cashing In

Communities sell broadband services for less
by Joanna Glasner, Wired News

 

Government Programs Capitalizing on Technology

One local innovative program is nominated for award
by Eric Chabrow, Information Week

 


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