Countywide Strategic Plan Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is the King County Strategic Plan and why are residents being asked for their opinions about county services? In November 2008, the county council directed the Executive to write a countywide plan based on the values and priorities of county residents. The input from residents will give elected leaders an idea of resident priorities and how policies might be adjusted or created based on that feedback. A strategic plan does three main things. - It assesses the current situation - where are we now?
- It identifies a vision - where do we want to go?
- It charts a path between the two: how are we going to get there from here?
This process will help King County come up with goals and strategies for the government as a whole over the next five years. The King County Strategic Plan will also be based on input from a statistically significant survey of residents, which should help ensure that results are representative of the county as a whole without undue influence by any particular constituent group.
How can I give my opinion on the Strategic Plan? The county is conducting a statistically valid sampling of residents and hosting four public workshops in July to solicit resident input that will be used to write the draft strategic plan.
I may not be able to attend any of the public meetings. Is there another way to give my opinion on this? E-mail messages with input for the Strategic Plan can also be sent to strategicplan@kingcounty.gov.
How will residents know if the Strategic Plan is being followed? County code requires that the countywide plan specifically include: - prioritized strategies and actions that describe how goals will be achieved given the projected opportunities and challenges
- a monitoring plan that describes, tracks and evaluates key outcomes to be achieved and high-level performance measures relevant to the stated goals, and
- performance measures for each goal with a primary agency, department or office accountable for improvement of each performance measure.
All of these elements will be tracked on the county's Office of Strategic Planning and Performance Management website in the Performance Management Section.
How does the countywide strategic plan fit in with the budget process? It will be the cornerstone of similar five-year strategic plans in every King County department and agency. The plans will guide yearly business planning at the department level, eventually making their way into operational decision-making and budgeting for individual programs.
How is this different from the Charter Review Process a couple of years ago? The King County Charter is the fundamental framework or constitution of how we govern our region. The Charter Review process happens once every 10 years and only asked for resident input on proposed charter changes. It resulted in 12 recommended charter amendments, which went to the King County Council for approval. In contrast, the King County Strategic Plan will clarify the strategic direction on where King County government will be in five years and how it intends to get there. It will also provide guidance to all of the separately elected officials in King County, including the County Executive, Sheriff, presiding judges for District and Superior Court, Assessor, Elections Director, and the Prosecuting Attorney as they make budget and policy decisions in the coming years. Since nearly three-quarters of the county's general fund is spent on criminal justice with many state and federal mandates dictating spending, this plan will help elected leaders and county managers set future budget priorities based on the services residents value most. The Strategic Plan will also help establish performance measures to ensure accountability by providing a roadmap with specific goals for county management. It will also provide officials with a framework for: - countywide priority setting,
- business planning,
- budget development,
- resource allocation and leadership, and
- managerial accountability.
King County departments and agencies will also use the countywide strategic plan to help build their own strategic plans, as mandated by the King County Performance and Accountability Act.
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