News-Record.com

One way to view an impending push to streamline Guilford County's government is to compare it to another efficiency dilemma touching nearly anyone these days.

Gas.

People trying to save money on gas could walk, ride a bike, take the bus or drive less. All the while, demands for work, grocery shopping and moving the family around don't change.

Likewise, county commissioners have several ways to create more efficient government.

It's just a matter of choosing the best option, or combination of options, while making sure services residents expect aren't cut.

Finding the best way to efficiency is a discussion the Board of Commissioners plans to dig into during a Tuesday work session.

Plenty of options abound.

lSince February, Commissioner Melvin "Skip" Alston has asked County Manager David McNeill to make a list of consultants that could work to make the county more efficient.

lIn July, Commissioner Bruce Davis brought up a computer program that could track clients in social services or the department of health to eliminate duplicity and time spent in registrations.

lLast week, Commissioner Billy Yow said he'd like to see county departments work together more often to eliminate multiple trips in the field for inspectors, health-code enforcers and other reasons.

lThe 2008-09 budget from the county's budget management office had a full-time analyst to look at ways to streamline year-round. McNeill eliminated that in his recommended budget, which the board later adopted.

So who has the best idea?

They might all be right.

A miracle to save millions from the county's $587.9 million budget is unlikely. Tiny trims are more feasible, according to David Ammons, a professor at the UNC School of Government.

"Partly, it's how good are they at following through with whatever approach they take," Ammons said.

If the follow-through is as vigilant as the passion appears to be among commissioners for saving money, that should be no problem.

"There is a lot of traction on the board," Chairman Kirk Perkins said Tuesday.

Then again, consensus among members is another issue.

When Davis brought up the software idea in July, Yow offered a retort.

"We started this a year ago," he said, referring to other programs to which the county once looked for savings that didn't pan out.

Davis later said his idea would operate as "just another tool," for more efficient government.

"You just continue monitoring it and tweaking," Davis said.

Yet all those ways to tweaking can add up.

Computer programs, consultants and internal reviewers can each cost tens of thousands of dollars.

A consultant recently reviewed the county's computer information services and recommended combining positions and other trims that could add up to annual savings of several thousand dollars - not a huge splash in terms of the county's overall budget.

Since that March report, which cost $30,000, one change has been made to help with computer services in the health department.

Barbara Weaver, director of information services, said the report didn't recommend cuts as much as it suggested ways to keep from having to spend more down the road.

"We were told by the consultant that we weren't overstaffed at all," she said.

Weaver's department would also have a major role in any computer programs that would generate efficiency, too.

A program to reduce wait times and processing for clients in social services would cost $250,000, she said.

"They aren't cheap," she said.

Not every way of saving money costs more money.

The county is working on its strategic plan, which dictates and hopes to predict how the county expects to grow and change.

"It's determining what the priorities are and it's what the community says the priorities are," Commissioner Paul Gibson said.

Through that type of planning, ideas for little cuts could arise between the public, county employees and politicians that set the annual budget.

That way, a few thousand dollars here and there can add up to millions in savings or prevented expenses.

"If a government is impatient and they want really big savings really quickly, that's tough," Ammons said. "They can just slash costs, but in all likelihood, that will have a damaging effect."

Commissioners such as Perkins and Gibson, who are both up for re-election this fall, have said these types of savings and planning require time to see the effects.

In a county that has had four consecutive property tax rate increases in the past four budgets, with more to come from the recently passed $654 million in bonds, time could certainly equal money.

Contact Gerald Witt at 373-7008 or gerald.witt@news-record.com