Report of the Cost of Government Commission 2014-2015

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PEOPLE (STAFF AND GENERAL PUBLIC) The Commission's intention was to identify general areas where County procedures could be modified to be more user friendly for both employees and the general public. RECOMMENDATION: Accept credit cards Countywide to complete transactions currently requiring "in person" cash or check payments, such as for licenses, taxes and renewals. RECOMMENDATION: Continue to expand and expedite use of web -based services and commerce, allowing the public to conduct business via the internet to increase convenience, reduce lines and improve interactions with the public. RECOMMENDATION: Explore ways to streamline and expedite the process for position revisions and department reorganizations. Some department heads indicated they had invested more than two years in reorganizing department functions and positions, leading to inefficiency and inability to implement program improvement goals. SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT/DIVISION RECOMMENDATIONS OFFICE OF AGING RECOMMENDATION: Explore ways to maximize use of the Aging and Disability Resource Center, including implementation of meeting room use fee. CIVIL DEFENSE The Commission would like to specifically acknowledge the Hawaii County Civil Defense and County employees. During the past seven months, the level of communication and rapid response to the lava flow and tropical storms has been, and continues to be, extraordinary. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT The Commission appreciated Department Director BJ Leithead Todd, Deputy Director John Medeiros and Division Head Dora Beck attending a Commission meeting to share information and answer questions about all the department's areas of responsibility. RECOMMENDATION: Explore the possibility of implementing fees to cover sewer connection inspections, building permit reviews and administrative (annual) cost of septage hauler discharge permits. 5