Classes are over at the University of Illinois, and faculty members have graded final exams and papers, coming up with grades: measures of how well students understood course content and responded to the information.

A recent article in Governing magazine, "Grading the Counties" looked at how well the nation's 40 largest counties are doing. This was a report of the Government Performance Project, a joint project of Governing, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, and Pew Charitable Trusts. They have previously completed two studies of states, and a study of the nation's largest cities.

How can local governments, and local officials, measure their success? Is it a balanced budget, an involved citizenry, or a well-maintained infrastructure?

Here are some of the questions posed by the researchers at Syracuse University as they looked at states, counties, and cities:

Financial management

• Does the government have a multi-year perspective on budgeting?
• Does the local government provide sufficient financial information to policy makers, other elected and appointed officials, and citizens?
• Are there appropriate controls over spending?

Capital management

• Is there a plan for capital needs and improvements?
• Is there a system for monitoring capital projects?
• Is there appropriate maintenance of capital assets?

Human resources

o Does the local government conduct workforce-planning analyses?

o Does the workforce have the appropriate skills?

o Are there cash and non-cash incentive programs in place for superior performance?

Managing for results

• Does the local government engage in results-oriented strategic planning?
• Has the local government developed indicators that measure progress toward goals?
• Do officials use results data for policy-making and budget development?
• Does the government report results of these activities to stakeholders?

Information technology

• Is their appropriate technology to support needs of officials and staff?
• Is there a plan for technology upgrades/
• Does technology support the local government's ability to communicate with and provide services to its' citizens?

The full article, as well as information about how the study was conducted, can be found online at http://governing.com/gpp/gp2intor.html

- Jeri Marxman, Extension Specialist, Public Policy

Often school aged children spend some time home by themselves because of working parents.

U of I Extension's "Operation Safe Kids" curriculum helps school age children develop the skills they need to care for themselves. The program consists of six lessons and is often delivered in the classroom or as an after school program. Key topics include: Personal safety, coping with fear, loneliness, and boredom, getting along with others, emergency first aid, kitchen safety and nutritious snacks, building confidence.

To determine the effectiveness of this program, one U of I Extension Educator administered a pre and post test to about 100 program participants. Post test scores increased substantially in two areas: personal safety and first aid. On three key questions related to risks associated with strangers roughly, 40 percent of the students improved their scores in dealing safely with strangers. Almost 30 percent showed improved knowledge in first aid skills. In the past two years, almost 8,000 youth have participated in this program.

- Charlie Clark, Extension Specialist Program Evaluation

http://www.mfai.org/organic_matter_budgeting.htm

Organic matter budgeting for farmers – replacement of nutrients is vital to soil

http://www.mrsc.org/finance/budgets/budgetbb.htm

Bibliography on local government budgeting

http://www.ilcma.org/

Illinois City/County Management Assn.

http://www.rupri.org/circ/index.html

Community Informatics Resource Center

http://www.goshen.edu/soan/soan96cd.htm

Lists many links to community development sites on the internet.

The University of Illinois and its Extension do not promote or embrace the views of any of the mentioned websites, they are given as a point for the reader to explore the issue.

- Amy L.H. Heilveil