Stanly County’s success with data-driven management and reporting has earned the local government with an award.
For its success, the International City/County Management Association awarded Stanly, the only county in the state, with a Certificate of Achievement in Performance Management.
County Manager Andy Lucas said the award shows Stanly’s commitment toward government transparency.
“Stanly County is honored to be recognized for its data driven approach to strategic planning and day-to-day operational decision-making,” Lucas said. “This certificate of achievement demonstrates our commitment to helping the Board of Commissioners make informed decisions using a data driven process. Further, it demonstrates our desire to keep the citizens of Stanly County informed and engaged as it relates to the performance of their local government.”
Certificates are based on established criteria and are awarded at three levels: Achievement, Distinction, and the highest level of recognition, Excellence. Recipients at all levels collect and verify data to ensure reliability, train staff in performance measurement, and report data to the public through budgets, newsletters, and/or information provided to elected officials.
“Performance management is a bedrock principle of professional local government management,” ICMA Executive Director Marc A. Ott said. “By recognizing these leaders, ICMA hopes to encourage others to make a commitment to collect and analyze data, report it transparently, and use it to continuously engage their communities and improve their organizations.”
Certificates of Distinction are awarded to those who also provide comparative and benchmarking information to the public, use performance data in strategic planning and operational decision-making, and share their knowledge with other local governments through presentations, site visits and other networking activities.
Certificates of Excellence go to those who also track and report key outcomes, survey residents and local government employees, incorporate data into performance dashboards or other visual communications and foster the development of a performance culture throughout their organizations.
Stanly County is among 15 jurisdictions receiving the Certificate of Achievement, and one of 57 recognized overall.
Winston Salem joins Stanly in the Certificate of Achievement recognition.
Durham, Fayetteville and Pinehurst earned the Certificate of Excellence honors.