bellwether government performance services

Government Performance Services

Fee Reviews

1

Why a Comprehensive Fee Review?

Generally , good public policy seeks to align the cost of services with the users of a service.

Potential changes in how the State Legislature allocates funds to the counties could create significant shortfalls.

Year-over-year increases in labor, benefits, products and service costs quickly erodes the careful balance of fees and service costs.

2

Why a Cost Allocation Plan?

To illustrate hidden expenses often overlooked in determining service fees.

To illustrate the interdependencies of departmental budgets on the services provided by the county.

To establish cost baselines in negotiating inter-governmental agreements and grants.

3

4

Why Bellwether?

Experience

Bellwether consultants have decades experience in detailed Activity Based Costing models.

Bellwether consultants hold certification in advanced statistical operating models such as Lean Six Sigma.

Bellwether consultants have decades experience as county elected officials and remain close to issues impacting county government operations.

Bellwether is active with several state-wide county official associations providing an insight into issues and changing legislation.

5

Why Bellwether?

Predictable Models

Department Visits

Remote Data Collection

Selected Observations

Conclusions

Week 1

Weeks 2-3

Week 4

Weeks 5-6

- Department Head Meeting - Initial Data Plan (indirect)

- Report / data review - Web meetings / calls

- Scheduled Visits - Web meetings / calls

- Final calculations - Draft reviews - Final production

More aggressive timelines are possible but may add stress on the individual departments and add additional cost to the project.

Years of experience allows Bellwether consultants to complete the project with limited distraction to staff

6

Why Bellwether?

Precision Tools Distributed /

Special CAP Total Labor Total Equip Actual Total Cost 2012 Fee Gap increase

$ - $ 6.82 2.72$ 2.08$ 11.61$ 1.91$ 9.70$ 485.18$

$ 2.00 $ 6.82 5.98$ 0.99$ 15.79$ 12.00$ 3.79$ 8,141.38$

$ 6.82 5.98$ 0.17$ 12.97$ 9.00$ 3.97$ 368.90$

$ 6.00 $ 6.82 10.33$ 0.17$ 23.32$ 18.00$ 5.32$ 26,587.88$

$ 6.82 5.98$ 0.17$ 12.97$ 13.00$ (0.03)$ (15.02)$

$ 5.00 $ 6.82 25.56$ 1.02$ 38.40$ 35.00$ 3.40$ 2,679.20$

$ 6.82 5.98$ 0.17$ 12.97$ 12.00$ 0.97$ -$

$ 5.00 $ 6.82 4.35$ 0.17$ 16.34$ 9.00$ 7.34$ -$

$ 2.00 $ 6.82 6.53$ 0.17$ 15.51$ 12.00$ 3.51$ -$

$ 2.00 $ 6.82 10.88$ 0.17$ 19.86$ 5.00$ 14.86$ 1,961.71$

$ 6.82 8.16$ 0.17$ 15.14$ 1.50$ 13.64$ 54.57$

$ 6.82 4.35$ 0.17$ 11.34$ 1.50$ 9.84$ 59.01$

$ 6.82 6.53$ 0.17$ 13.51$ 2.00$ 11.51$ 184.17$

$ 6.82 8.70$ 0.17$ 15.69$ 5.00$ 10.69$ 2,457.78$

$ 6.82 11.42$ 0.17$ 18.41$ 10.00$ 8.41$ 1,933.22$

$ 6.82 13.60$ 0.17$ 20.58$ 10.00$ 10.58$ 11,321.39$

$ 6.82 39.16$ 0.17$ 46.14$ 31.84$ 14.30$ 14,659.77$

$ 6.82 8.16$ 0.17$ 15.14$ 10.00$ 5.14$ 2,211.12$

$ 6.82 39.16$ 0.17$ 46.14$ 31.84$ 14.30$ 214.53$

$ 6.82 11.42$ 0.17$ 18.41$ 10.00$ 8.41$ 6,102.25$

$ 6.82 10.88$ 0.17$ 17.86$ -$ 17.86$ -$

79,407.03$

$ 23.00 $ 6.82 17.19$ 0.17$ 47.17$ 35.75$ 11.42$ 302,975.91$

$ 23.00 $ 6.82 16.66$ 0.17$ 46.64$ 37.75$ 8.89$ 1,155.75$

$ 6.82 7.61$ 0.17$ 14.59$ -$ 14.59$ -$

304,131.66$

383,538.69$

CLERK

Research

Record Financial Statements

Take Notice

Record Search

RECORDER

Record - general

Surrender Certificate

Certified Taxes Paid / per parcel

Tax Redemption

Reassign Tax Sale Cert

Notary returned to counter

Notary certificate mail in

Certified copy, other document

Certified Business Registration

Business Registration change

Business Withdrawal of name

Certificate of authority

Certified copies,

Additional copies of

Certified Copies, Birth Cert

Additional copies, Birth Cert

Certified copies, death cert

Fee

Precinct Maps

Additional copies of death

Marriage License/ CU

7

Why Bellwether?

Results

$ 2,700,000 +

Potential County Revenue Identified since July 2013

Return on Fee Investment: 1,100 – 1,700%

County Revenue Impact (examples) Population 210,000 $840,000

Population 140,000 $465,000

Population 135,000 $835,000

Population 110,000 $470,000

8

Why Bellwether?

References

In 2013 Bellwether was repeatedly chosen over other firms to provide Fee Review and Cost Allocation Planning*

Other Consulting Firms

Local Accounting Firms

(Based on actual head-to-head RFP results and client reported decision making)

9

Why Bellwether?

No Regrets Preliminary Review

The Bellwether Preliminary Review provides your county with a “no regrets” approach to fee reviews. Our preliminary report provides fact based projections of potential fee review before you commit to the follow on work.

• $1,000 per department to determine the fee potential • Preliminary fee is applied to the full study cost if the county elects to proceed.

10

County Clerk

Fee Impact Ranges (selected fees)

Clerk Fees 31 – 81%

Current

Actual

Bellwether consultants have a deep understanding of the work and statutes guiding the County Clerk’s Office. We understand both processes and the public demand.

11

County Recorder


Recorder Fees 19 – 25%

County Recorder statutes include several special fees and distributions. Some of these fees are impacted by ongoing litigation while others are potentially impacted by proposed 2014 legislation. Bellwether stays connected to these issues.

Record - general Record Financial Statements Research

2012

Current

12

Sheriff Department


Sheriff Fees 51 -110%

As a former sworn Federal Officer and Chief of Police, our Managing Partner brings an understanding of law enforcement operations.

Bellwether has worked with several Illinois Sheriff Departments to ensure their fees equal the cost of providing the service.

COUNTY SIZE POTENTIAL INCREASE

Counties under 15,000 residents $30,000 - $50,000

Counties 15,000 to 50,000 $40,000 - $110,000

Counties 50,000 to 100,000 $80,000 - $150,000

Counties greater than 100,000 $150,000 - $225,000

13

Health Department

Pool Inspections Plan Review Class II Plan Review Class III

2012

Actual

Seasonal Food C1 Seasonal Food C2 Seasonal Food C3 Food Manager Class

2012

Actual

Bellwether consultants have experience consulting in healthcare administration, food service sanitation and environmental health

14

Circuit Clerk

Bellwether conducts an audit of current fees to determine the placement within the allowed range and calculates the new fee potential

15

Management Processes

- Demonstrate positive management controls

- Document standards and expectations

Management Process Audit

Public Relations

- Develop effective communication channels

- Issue management for Watch Dog topics

16

The Next Steps

Choose A Preliminary Approach

Choose The Departments

Choose The Timeline

Choose