Benchmarking is the act of taking a measurement and then changing the process to see if the measurement was then affected, and how, by that change. Comparing per capita/unit costs between different counties is not benchmarking. If the factors are related to per capita variables within a comparison county then they can be weighted, but I am not to sure that the five counties are in fact that different. Before you say they are different then you must provide the data that in in fact demonstrates the statistical variations. To say they are different is subjective.

If the PD’s analysis is not valid then what variables or variations between counties would cause that, because if it is specific, and then if checked, and then if no significant variation exists, it would be in fact an excuse.

The bench marks are now set, please make them better and do not compromise quality of service while doing so. Any analysis on the average wait/delivery time for services? None of this is comprehensive, is it. I would like to say it is a start, but it could be just the beginning and the end of it.

If the method of measuring performance is fully defined, then we could run models to see if in fact a regional system will produce better results.

  Any way you want to and you can claim benchmarks.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out we are not especially well represented by any and all Cuyahoga County administrations. 

Are there hardworking, decent county workers, especially, on the frontlines?  You bet.  But, if any one wants to fault the PD for this not especially revealing or hard-hitting analysis, then fault them for not  "benchmarking" personal income and liveability indicators like youth programming, headstart/daycare providers, good schools and access to higher education.  Our so-called leaders have failed us miserably.
 

Having knowledge and or an intuitive understanding of what the differences are between inferential and referential. Then seeing the value within the consolidation and standardizations of the uses of software and technology. Information systems and combined technology budgets and standard processes, a big cost saver. The county is and has repeatedly said the they want a county data center. That is very intelligent government and if that center is set up correctly it could support regionalism. Separate what is administration from what is political.

Change is a process and change to the process is reengineering and it has protocol. However what is new and different can be and will be revolutionary. The only rules are the rules of numbers, what is optimum and why.

What's your point Norm--that the PD shouldn't bother to analyze Cuyahoga County administration by performance standards?  

Do you believe that the analysis reached the wrong conclusions?  Are you impressed by something I am missing?  Is some analysis better than no analysis?
 

“That is why Cuyahoga County citizens deserve a response to The Plain Dealer's recent series on staffing and services (May 10-12). In general, the series uses oversimplified, inaccurate and incomplete data to make comparisons to other counties. In at least one instance, The Plain Dealer's numbers are simply wrong. Furthermore, the series omitted the fact that Cuyahoga County spends less per capita than Franklin or Hamilton counties, despite these glaring realities: Cuyahoga County has more residents in poverty, more seniors, more job losses and more foreclosed homes than any other Ohio county.

PD Report Summary

Summary page two  

Which number are “simply wrong” Are the Franklin County Sheriffs’ Numbers? They are as stated the glaring outlier.

The whole thing is rather charged is the prosecutor over worked or efficient? Is the county engineer efficient or are all the bridges falling apart?

Cuyahoga is the largest and spends the least per capita? What are the sources of the Budgets? Who gets the most intergovernmental funding? 

per capita spending by county:

Hamilton $1,455.84

Cuyahoga $1,140.25

Montgomery $1,729.11

Franklin $1,440.22

Lucas $1,397.16

I believe that the funding supports poverty and does little to eradicate it. The report shows that we spend less dealing with our high crime and decrepit infrastructure. If Cuyahoga ,as I suspect, receives the most intergovernmental funding then that means our tax revenues are less. That with the highest rate in sales tax.

We have a county that is what dependent on poverty and intergovernmental funding? The industry of need?

That's simply a fact -- not spin, Norm. I don't make any judgment whether that's "good" support or "bad" support. But of those who turned out, 62 percent favored the issue.

Since a facet to the city's argument is that the judge is overruling the will of the voters, it's only fair to report the factual number of voters and the percentage. I devoted equal time to the judge/civil servants' side, and the lead of the story dealt with how the judge ruled the charter amendment unconstitutional. It was a decision that potentially impacts scores of city employees and the city budget, which affects all taxpayers. Whether you agree or disagree with the merits of the case; whether the city is right or wrong in this matter, at least that much is true.

My goal, as always, is to be an honest broker.

 From my vantage point, I see two games played on taxpayers in C-town: cronyism/patronage/contract awards and accelerating poverty/and theft of property through the CDC/corporate-backed oligarchy in NEO.  I don't care how these two games get exposed and shut down.  I am just glad that the PD is finally daylighting these schemes.
 

Almost half of Cuyahoga County deputies didn't take civil service exam

Why would anyone want to be in politics if they cannot hire their friends and family?   

How well do the municipalities respect the Civil Service laws? Cleveland does not what about the others?