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Subjects › Management › Performance Measurement
Updated 05/2012

Performance Measurement

Contents

Introduction

This webpage is intended as a resource for Washington local government elected officials, managers and staff who are developing and implementing performance measurement systems.

The use of performance measures in local government is being driven by increased citizen demands for government accountability, greater interest on the part of local legislators in performance related information to assist in program evaluation and resource allocation decisions, and the efforts of various organizations and professional associations to make governments more results-oriented.

Performance measurement allows policy makers, managers, and citizens to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of government services. Performance measures include inputs (resources used), outputs (program activities), efficiency measures (ratio of inputs to outputs), and outcomes (the actual results of programs and services). Many performance measurement systems are limited to measuring program inputs and outputs. Ideally, however, performance measurement efforts will also generate information about program results and outcomes. 

Supporting Organizations

Performance measurement efforts are supported by a number of national organizations and professional associations, including the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), and the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).

The International City/County Management Association supports performance measurement research and development through their Center for Performance Measurement. The program provides on-site training in performance measurement concepts and data collection techniques and access to a database of comparative performance information from participating city and county governments. Several Washington cities (Bellevue, Lakewood, Lynnwood, Richland, Sammamish, Tacoma, and Vancouver) and one county (Kitsap) have joined ICMA's performance measurement program. ICMA also publishes a free e-newsletter on this topic, Performance Matters.

The Governmental Accounting Standards Board has been promoting the reporting of service efforts and accomplishments as in integral component of financial reporting since the early 1980's. In July 2010 the Board issued their Suggested Guidelines for Voluntary Reporting of Service Efforts and Accomplishments (SEA) Performance Information. The Suggested Guidelines are intended to help state and local governments that choose to communicate SEA performance information to citizens, elected officials, and other interested parties. For more information, see GASB's Service Efforts and Accomplishments Project Page.

The Government Finance Officers Association recommends that program and service performance measures be developed and used as an important component of long term strategic planning and decision making which should be linked to governmental budgeting. For more information, see GFOA's Performance Measurement Best Practice Page. 

Articles, Papers and Reports

Washington Jurisdictions

Bellevue

  • 2012 Budget Survey Report - Conducted every two years to learn about resident budget priorities, the importance and level of satisfaction with city services and the value residents feel they get for their tax dollars.
  • 2011 Performance Measures Survey Report - Scientifically valid annual citizen survey that assesses how residents view the city's services and overall performance.
  • Report to Bellevue Citizens (September 2010): Four-page report focusing on Bellevue's vital signs and overall performance.

Bellingham

King County

Pierce County

Kirkland

Mercer Island

Redmond

Richland

Tacoma

Vancouver

Out-of-State Jurisdictions

Austin, Texas

Charlotte County, Virginia

Denver, Colorado

  • Peak Performance Web page - provides an overview of Denver's Peak Performance initiative with links to performance metrics, strategic plans, agency and department performance reviews and other resources.

Maricopa County, Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona

Performance Measures by Functional Area

Building and Development

Code Compliance

Economic Development

Fire

Information Technology

Law Enforcement

Mental Health

Parks

Public Health

Risk Management

Streets, Roads, Traffic

Additional References

  • Public Performance & Reporting Network - A web-based tool created to enhance the performance measurement and reporting field by providing free resources to the greater community, sponsored by the National Center of Public Performance and Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration.
  • Center on Municipal Government Performance - The Fund for the City of New York's Center on Government Performance was established in 1995 to promote communication, trust and mutual accountability between government and the public.