By K.D. Norris
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic hitting, and Kent County taking a leadership role in local response and recovery through its health department and its allocations of federal CARES Act funds, the county is moving ahead with it 2019-23 Strategic Plan — and it has the stats to prove it.
Kent County announced this week that it had launched its 2019-2023 Strategic Plan Performance Dashboard, designed to track progress made toward achieving the priorities and goals of the County’s Strategic Plan, which was approved by the Board of Commissioners in June 2019.
“Families and businesses are struggling with their own budgets, so we have a responsibility to make their government more accountable and transparent than ever,” Kent County Board of Commissioners Chair Mandy Bolter said in supplied material. “Moving more County data online will help taxpayers know what we are focused on and empower them to hold our feet to the fire when we aren’t getting the job done.”
While there have been major disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, County leadership continues to review the plan and “adjust as necessary to ensure the priorities and goals reflect the changing economic conditions and community needs,” according to the county statement.
The Strategic Plan Performance Dashboard gives more insight into where specific priorities have been disrupted due to COVID-19 and how far along they are to completion.
The dashboard uses seven measures — status pending, on track, some disruption, major disruption, upcoming, discontinued and complete — to track progress toward five priorities: economic prosperity, quality of life, service delivery, inclusive participation and effective communications.
“This is all about effectively and efficiently using our resources to meet community needs,” Kent County Administrator Wayman Britt said in supplied material. “This plan acts as a guide when deciding how to prioritize activities, allocate resources and fund initiatives — and it’s been an invaluable tool during this pandemic.”
Visit Kent County’s Strategic Plan Performance Dashboard here. See the entire strategic plan here. And see here a WKTV Journal In Focus interview with Kent County leadership after they approved the plan.
