BasicGov / BLOG

Ahead of the Curve blog series authored by HB Lanarc and sponsored by BasicGov explores six major trends in municipal management in the 21st century, including a move to adopt sustainable practices. And leading communities are taking on all of these, and are leveraging benefits through their response to each trend. Read below and comments are welcome. Read trend 1, trend 2, trend 3.

Trend 4: Competition to reduce “red tape” in local governments

Development is a long and costly process. Municipal managers that are clear in setting desired areas for growth, and fast processes for meeting regulations and amenities, are attractive places for the development community. Therefore, there is competition among municipalities to improve application processing efficiency and to reduce the “red tape” factor. At the same time, however, citizens want to ensure public objectives are not ignored through speedy permitting processes.

Leading municipalities are responding by using technology and internal processes to reduce permitting time while ensuring public objectives are achieved. In communities where the public has identified infill and redevelopment as priorities, leaders are also building public support in advance of development applications, making it easier to get approvals for these otherwise difficult and time-consuming projects.

Click here to read Ahead of the Curve white paper

This is the 3rd trend as part of our Ahead of the Curve white paper and blog series authored by HB Lanarc and sponsored by BasicGov. Click to read previous Trend 1 and Trend 2.

Trend 3: Public Demands for Accountability

Trust in the government is at an all-time low by some measures. As a result, citizens are demanding more clarity about what local governments are doing, and how well elected officials are delivering on their promises. For example, Chicago recently adopted a performance management program as a means of ensuring accountability to its citizens.

Furthermore, some senior governments are starting to require cities, towns and counties to regularly report “up” on performance. These demands are beginning to extend to details of development applications, with many local governments providing citizens and businesses access with web portals to apply and check status of permits and licenses. A few are even engaging in participatory budgeting processes, involving citizens directly with priority-setting and the resulting fiscal decisions.

What are you seeing as trends in public demands and local government?

Next trend is “Competition to reduce red tape“.

To read full white paper, click here.