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Information Services provides the Council's <br />core computer expertise and information <br />management, including the organization's entire <br />network of computer resources, Geographic <br />Information System and the MetroGIS <br />consortium. <br />Risk Management identifies, evaluates and <br />manages the Council's exposure to loss <br />through risk -control and risk -financing methods. <br />The Human Resources unit is responsible for <br />collective bargaining, grievance and arbitration, <br />recruitment and selection, compensation <br />administration, and group benefit programs for <br />the Council's employees and retirees. The unit <br />also coordinates learning and organizational <br />development activities and provides training <br />and development services. <br />CHALLENGES AND <br />OPPORTUNITIES <br />Attracting and retaining skilled employees is <br />critical to providing efficient and cost-effective <br />regional services. Like many organizations <br />today, Council employees are approaching <br />retirement age, and the Council needs to carry <br />out strong recruiting and training programs to <br />maintain its high-quality workforce. <br />The Council's operating divisions increasingly <br />rely on information technology to do their jobs <br />efficiently, quickly and accurately. The <br />Information Services department works closely <br />with the operating divisions to develop and <br />carry out technology solutions that achieve that <br />goal. The challenge is to maintain the Council's <br />complex information systems and respond <br />appropriately to new technology. <br />Another continuing challenge is financing <br />essential regional services while keeping <br />property taxes, wastewater service charges and <br />passenger fares at reasonable, competitive <br />levels. The Finance department works with <br />operating divisions to minimize property tax <br />increases and maintain competitive user <br />charges in the Environmental Services and <br />Transportation divisions. <br />A-3 <br />Finance and Budget operations strive to ensure <br />the Council maintains its strong financial <br />management, including adequate financial <br />reserves and AAA bond rating, which enables <br />capital financing at the lowest possible interest <br />cost. <br />OPERATIONS <br />SOURCES OF FUNDS <br />The Council's operating divisions fund 95% of <br />the Regional Administration budget by paying <br />for the services they receive directly or benefit <br />from. The divisions are billed each month and <br />pay with the revenue sources of those divisions. <br />The rest of the Regional Administration budget <br />is funded with the Council's general purposes <br />property tax levy, investment earnings and other <br />miscellaneous revenues. <br />2015 Regional Administration Division <br />Operating Budget - Sources of Funds: $49.4 Million <br />2% Reserves $1.2 Pk Other $0.7 <br />2% Property Taxes $1.0 t <br />95% <br />Interdivisional <br />Allocations $46.5 <br />