Striving for Excellence in Municipal Government

Appeared in The Recorder & Times on February 7, 2007

Congratulations to the City of Brockville council and senior management team for streamlining the 2007 municipal budget process to have it adopted mid February as opposed to mid spring. Although the results of the final document have yet to be reviewed and the components of the new process may require some refining, the City has demonstrated a commitment for more effective use of staff and council time as well as better planning.

Municipal governments today are under increasing pressure to mitigate the cost to deliver services resulting from provincial downloading and ever changing ministry standards. Many of these standards are created to meet the needs of larger centers with no latitude for any individual municipality's needs or ability to pay. Councils must then balance these service delivery requirements with long term infrastructure planning and creating an environment for economic growth and diversity. This is a tall order to fill and the municipal budget is the final bill.

The competency, commitment and decision making of municipal government affect our lives more directly than any other level of government which is why, despite our appreciation for the many challenges facing local councils, we must demand a demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement with the goal of excellence. Is this too much to ask? After all, how can the council of a rural municipality faced with increased responsibilities, provincial standards and global competition deliver effective services while laying a foundation for the future of the community? To be successful in the private sector, you must be strategic, conservative and creative. And so it is for municipal government.

The recent change in Ontario municipal terms to four years gives council members additional motivation to think long term when making decisions. They must start with a vision for their community and set goals and objectives that are strategic, measurable and well communicated. A well developed and understood plan goes a long way to creating a corporate culture of innovation, accountability and efficiency. It also opens up the door for opportunities to access community resources and support and create valuable regional partnerships. This level of transparency and communication will also attract new development and generate confidence in the existing businesses and residents. Imagine the results where government, business and community work together and align resources toward one common goal.

Meanwhile, external pressures continue to be a significant factor and even as Chambers of Commerce across Ontario encourages municipal councils to operate and make decisions that foster a competitive business environment, we also heavily support the Ontario Chamber of Commerce who is doing this same work at the provincial level. The decisions of the provincial government are impacting the local business community more profoundly than ever before both directly and through its management of local government. This is why the Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce asks our regional municipalities to develop their ability to maximize their resources by conducting operational reviews, investigating best practices and utilizing performance measures. Our goal should not be to reach the provincial averages but to be the best the province has to offer in every aspect. After all, if we are not reaching forward then we are falling behind.

So is excellence in government to much to ask? The answer is - we have no choice. Municipal government is competing for the future of its community just the same as business competes for its market share. We must generate revenue through new development, spend conservatively and invest strategically to realize the dividends; a thriving community and quality of life.