1. County Government Structure
Why should we care?
Understand the checks and balances
Understand where our money is going
Transparency and Efficiency
How can we make changes?
Short term
Long term
Never was our original intention to look at County Organization
Greatest spending growth in area(s) that are difficult for us to follow the money...the largest of which is the Sheriff and Fire/Rescue
We also wanted to look at ways various parts of the government could be more efficient - but each of the various parts – Constitutionals – run separate organizations
That led us to start looking at how our county and others are organized and what role the Commissioners and citizens can play in making changes if they're necessary.
Copyright 2010, Palm Beach County Taxpayer Action Board

2. What is a Charter Government?
A charter is a document that spells out the powers, duties and structures of government and the rights of citizens. It is often compared to constitutions at the local level.
Charter counties have all powers of self-government unless they are inconsistent with the Constitution or State law.
Prior to '68 counties were administrative subdivisons of the state Constitution authorized home rule charters – which can be implemented by general election. PBC passed charter in '84; started '85.
20 of 67 Counties have charters – comprising 75-85% of the population – but most have not modified their base organizations significantly
Source: Florida statutes title XI, Charter 125 and other docs
One of three forms:
- County Executive – Commissioners and and Elected Executive (Miami Dade, Duval, Volusia)
- County Mgr – Commissioners and Apptd. Administrator
- County Chair with Administrator (Orange County)
Copyright 2010, Palm Beach County Taxpayer Action Board

3. Copyright 2010, Palm Beach County Taxpayer Action Board
Checks and Balances
BCC
Legislative Branch – elected
County Administration
Executive Branch – but appointed
Constitutionals
Elected
Narrow mission
Commissioners – responsible for enacting ordinances and resolutions; advising and approving appointments made by the administration; approving operating and capital budgets and other financial expenditures and conducting continuing studies in the operation of county programs for improvement of the county and the welfare of its residents.
7 districts – which after the census – will be redistricted to have more equal populations
Administration – runs the county, prepares the budget and manageis it. Carries out the directions and policies of the BCC
Constitutionals are Sheriff, Clerk of the Court/Comptroller, Supervisor of Elections, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector plus (State Atty and Public Defender). Some or all of these functions can be absorbed by Charter change to appted positions
Copyright 2010, Palm Beach County Taxpayer Action Board

4. Palm Beach County Org Chart
Green – we're the voters and the residents – and we pick the Commission and the Constitutionals
The Commissioners (and any other county boards or committees) are covered by the Sunshine Law – which allows for open meetings and open records. While they can discuss operations with the administration individually – when you see them in a Commission meeting or its equivalent, is the only time they are actually debating a subject. This is unlike the legislature in Tallahassee or US Congress.
The Blue is the Executive Branch – comprising the bulk of the County operations.
Entirely separate are municipal governments and the School Board, and other taxing authorities.
Copyright 2010, Palm Beach County Taxpayer Action Board

5. Where is our money going? 2010 Appropriations
County total: $1,981,557,651
Fire/Rescue: $346,986,345
Sheriff: $480,062,486
Remainder: $1,154,508,820
So when we try and track down where our money is going, 42% of it is in the most rapidly growing areas of Fire/Rescue and the Sheriff.
But the Constitutional Officers provide their budgets in various levels of detail. While the Sheriff provides a budget request to the BCC – they do not control or even see details of that budget.
Fire/Rescue – has more detail. But if one wanted to see whether or not there was overlap between some of the systems, or employees not directly performing law-enforcement or fire/rescue duties – difficult to see.
Copyright 2010, Palm Beach County Taxpayer Action Board

6. Transparency & Efficiency
Do we have access to the information?
Online?
Information requests?
Is productivity and performance improving over time?
How much is duplicated across organizations?
Productivity vs private sector?
In general – small businesses or large corporations have to become lean and mean when they have competition or in tough times.
Government – at all levels – tends to become bloated – not necessarily intentionally, but because of expanding roles or programs or projects that never go away. And all institutions tend to want to justify their existence.
Changes to county structure shouldn't be done lightly - but to improve efficiency, avoid duplication, improve productivity – if it can't be achieved any other way.
It is an offshoot of examining what is the core mission of the County.
Copyright 2010, Palm Beach County Taxpayer Action Board

7. Copyright 2010, Palm Beach County Taxpayer Action Board
Planned Activities
Examine other FL and US Counties
Organization
Administrator vs Mayor vs Other?
Any modification of Constitutionals?
More radical changes - municipalities
Sheriff, Fire/Rescue, Public safety reporting structures
Charter Review policies
Benchmarks
As we review what has worked in other government entities – elsewhere in FL and in other parts of the country
- we can see the pros and cons of those modifications.
- we can see if there are ordinances in other counties that should be instituted in Palm Beach County
- we can see if other counties or municipalities have done studies that can be applied to improving our own?
- we can see how other counties have measured their performance and what actions have they taken to streamline their operations.
Copyright 2010, Palm Beach County Taxpayer Action Board

8. Copyright 2010, Palm Beach County Taxpayer Action Board
Goals
Short term
Charter review requested by BCC on 8/17
Convince at least 4 Commissioners to adopt policy changes/recommendations from the various Project groups
Long term
Initiate Charter change(s) – ballot initiative
Requires petition of 7% of registered voters
Can only happen during a general election
We were pleased to see the Commissioners request a charter review. Many counties have that as an integral part of their charter every 4, 5 or 10 yrs by a committee of citizens, soliciting public input. We would like for TAB to be able to participate and will request that. Typically – such committees come up with a long list of potential changes, most of which are evaluated and rejected by the Commissioners.
Our goals, via TAB, is to convince Commissioners to adopt changes/recommendations from the project groups. (bond process, sunset review, benchmarking, core mission prioritization)
Know, however – that if enough citizens want to change the organization – it can be done by petition.
Our effectiveness will not come from 3 minute talks at BCC mtgs – but by detailed, well-thought out proposals, convincing arguments and your support.
Copyright 2010, Palm Beach County Taxpayer Action Board