County government working for you with new monthly report, survey opportunity

In order to better serve you, Charles County Government is seeking ways to increase transparency and share more information about county programs and activities.

Recently, we introduced new tools for residents to learn about government projects and activities, view performance goals by department and measure our progress against other counties of similar size nationwide. The county has launched a new survey for resident input, as well as the County Administrator’s Monthly Report publication as ways to better engage and inform the community.

Charles County Government is making use of a service provided by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), a worldwide, professional membership organization that advances local government leadership. ICMA, in partnership with the National Research Center Inc., offers the National Citizen Survey, a tool for counties to gather resident opinion across a range of community issues. The survey is customized to include questions relevant to our community.

Earlier this month, surveys were mailed to 1,500 randomly selected Charles County households. The survey is also available online. We encourage all residents to take the survey. Visit www.n-r-c.com/survey/charlescountysurvey.htm. Survey results will tell us what you think about the quality of local government services and how you use these services, as well as local policies, demographics and quality of life information.

Another way the county is working to increase transparency is by providing the County Administrator’s Monthly Report publication and videos. The electronic report focuses on county departments’ monthly performance and achievements. The report includes a handy dashboard, which gives a quick overview of several key performance measures and how they rank against national averages.

Each monthly report now has a companion video highlighting topics included in the report. View the latest County Administrator’s Monthly Report and video at www.CharlesCountyMD. gov/coadmin/county-administrators-monthly-report. Links to reports and videos are also shared on the Charles County Government Facebook Page (www.Facebook.com/CharlesCounty) and on Twitter (www.Twitter.com/CharlesCoMD).

Monthly report videos on DVD are available to purchase for $6 each. To request a DVD, visit www.CharlesCountyMD.gov, click on “More CCGTV” and “Request DVD copies,” and fill out the online form.

It is important for county governments to benchmark successes and programs with residents in mind. By measuring our current services, Charles County Government continues building a more effective and efficient government.

For information about Charles County Government events, opportunities and news, visit www.CharlesCountyMD.gov. Michael D. Mallinoff is the county administrator for Charles County Government.