Fairfax County is “one of the best-managed jurisdictions in America” according to the evaluation results announced today by Governing Magazine and the Government Performance Project (GPP). Fairfax County received an overall grade of “A-,” one of only two jurisdictions to receive the highest grade awarded in the comprehensive study that looked in-depth at management practices in 40 counties nationwide. Maricopa County, Arizona was the only other jurisdiction to earn an overall grade of “A-.”
“The handling of money and capital projects is outstanding, and Fairfax County is a national leader in the advanced use of technology for the benefit of citizens,” according to the team that evaluated the County.
The Government Performance Project evaluated management practices in five areas: Financial Management, Capital Management, Human Resources Management, Information Technology Management, and Managing for Results, which includes both strategic planning and performance measurement. Fairfax County was the only jurisdiction out of the 40 surveyed to receive a grade of “A-” or better in all five areas evaluated.
“I am immensely pleased and proud that the dedication and hard work of our employees have been recognized,” stated County Executive Anthony H. Griffin on receiving word of the results.
The report applauded the county’s efforts at decentralization of functions and efforts to increase flexibility for managers at the agency level. “It’s my job to make sure agencies have what they need to do their jobs. I’m not prescribing how to do it. The power of the organization is in the people,” Griffin explained.
Fairfax County’s grades in the five management areas studied are as follows:
Fairfax County earned an “A” in Information Technology Management, one of only two counties in the survey to earn the top score in that area.
In Financial Management, the county received an “A-“, one of only four counties to earn the highest grade awarded in this category.
Fairfax County topped the competition in Human Resources Management, earning the only “A-“, the highest grade awarded in the category.
In Capital Management, the county was one of only three counties to earn an “A-,“ earning high marks for its long-term capital planning.
In Managing for Results, the county received an “A-“, one of only three awarded in this category which looked at strategic planning and performance measurement.
“This superior rating validates our efforts to meet the high expectations of our residents and is the result of clear policy direction from the Board and the hard work and dedication of county employees. This evaluation confirms our reputation as a leader among local governments,” County Executive Griffin concluded.
The entire Government Performance Report for counties, including evaluations
of all 40 counties surveyed, can be viewed at Governing magazine’s
Web site: http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/gpp.
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