The County is one of 18 jurisdictions to be awarded a 2010 Certificate of Distinction from the International City/County Management Association Center for Performance Measurement. Certificate winners were recognized during the ICMA Annual Conference, Oct. 17 – 20, 2010, in San Jose, California.

Leslie Johnson, the County’s director of planning and evaluation, said the award recognizes Mecklenburg’s continuing efforts in measuring and improving performance, and the County’s commitment to integrating performance measurement into the organization’s management.

The customer-focused and results-oriented M4R approach helps set priorities, goals and strategic direction to achieve the Board of County Commissioner’s 2015 Vision that Mecklenburg will be a community of pride and choice for people to live, work and recreate.

According to ICMA, criteria for the Certificate of Distinction include:

• reporting of performance data to the public through budgets, newsletters, and/or information provided to elected officials
• the data verification efforts to ensure reliability
• staff training
• use of performance data in strategic planning and operational decision-making
• sharing of performance measurement knowledge with other local governments through presentations, site visits, and other networking

Michael Lawson, director of the Center for Performance Measurement (CPM), explains why the recognition is important.

“The certificate program is one of the pillars of CPM,” Lawson said in an ICMA news release. “Through our certificate program, local governments are recognized for their exceptional commitment to continuous learning and improvement. The criteria on which the certificates are based serve as a checklist of effective, results-oriented management practices.”

Learn more about the County’s approach to planning and evaluation and its Managing for Results philosophy online.