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Brian Adey
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Oneida County Executive Joseph A. Griffo today appointed a task force of private sector representatives to offer fresh perspectives on County Government’s structure, operations and efficiency.

"This task force will look at how government goes about its work with an unbiased eye," Griffo said. "It will make recommendations in areas where they think change can help lower costs or improve efficiency. Because they are not part of county government, they have an outsider's perspective that we need. They may find areas where we can change our operations. They may also find areas where regulations create onerous burdens that need not exist. In those cases, these leaders will also be our allies as we work with state or federal representatives to change outmoded laws or rules that need to be changed."

Griffo applauded the task force members. "Community service is a cornerstone of Oneida County," he said. "By taking time from their businesses and private lives to work with me on reducing the cost of government, these business people are helping to improve the quality of life in our community by allowing us to stretch every tax dollar as far as it will go."

Griffo has identified co-chairman for the task force. They are Charles Schoff and Rocco Arcuri.

"One of the answers I got when I became County Executive was ‘We always did it this way.’ Well, that may be true, but maybe there is a better way," Griffo said. "When outside eyes look at county operations and structure, they can ask basic questions without any pre-conceived notions. Whatever we can change to save money and increase efficiency will be worth the effort."

Other parts of Griffo’s plan include:

Shaping the structure of government for the future, not the past. "Government grows as it adds missions and programs that are designed to meet community needs," Griffo said. "However, needs change and government too often fails to keep pace with those changes. A government structure developed in the pre-computer age offering services through remote offices may not be relevant today if those same services can be delivered as well through the Web and at a lower cost. Successful corporations are looking at the trends shaping the future to determine the most efficient structure. County Government must do that as well, so that we can refocus ourselves on the emerging needs of our community. Long-term visioning and action to accomplish that vision will ensure that we are structured for success."

Conducting a community dialogue to identify and eliminate duplication of services. "We have tremendous community resources in the not-for-profit agencies in Oneida County. We also have county and local governments providing services, often to the same customers. It is common sense to sit down with the community to look at who is doing what and work together to find the lowest cost ways of providing the best possible services. Whether tax money is being spent through government or by agencies getting government grants, we need to maximize efficiency. In some cases, government may be the best provider; in others, it may be a not-for-profit; in others, there may be contractual arrangements that offer the best plan. We'll never know if we don't start talking."

Creating a performance audit system for contracts and vendors by establishing standards of performance and consequences for poor performance. "Because County Government contracts with many outside agencies to provide services, and works with many vendors, we need to adopt performance measures that assess a county contractor's efficiency and effectiveness. Whether we look at the cost per person served, the number of people who show improvements in the areas for which service is being provided, or some other factors, we need to develop objective standards with which to conduct performance audits to ensure taxpayers are getting the best value for their dollars. Once we do that, we will hold contractors accountable."

Griffo said the combined result of these steps will be increased efficiency.

"County Government is in the business of serving people," Griffo said. "I believe the most essential part of that service is to streamline our operations so that our taxpayers get the maximum possible value for their tax dollars. Through these actions, my steps to increase savings starting with this fiscal year, and my game plan to increase operational accountability, we have made an excellent start to achieve that goal."