4 challenges for Utah government entities

Utah’s special districts do so much right — providing fire protection, snow removal, clean water, recreational opportunities and more for the residents within their boundaries. You do so professionally and efficiently, with service to citizens at the center of everything you do. But now and then it’s a good thing to be reminded of issues that have proven problematic for some governing bodies. It’s helpful, in short, for the boards and managers of Utah’s special districts to focus on four problem areas the Legislative Auditor General has identified in its audits of government entities.

Here are those four problem areas, along with the Legislative Auditor General’s recommendations for government entities:

Lack of Acceptable Governance

• Establish a vision and mission
• Ensure harmony between the vision and functions established in statute
• Establish desired outcomes
• Establish policies and procedures
• Avoid micro management
• Review overall district performance

Inadequate Policies and Procedures

• Establish clear written policies and procedures
• Periodically review to ensure compliance with state law and harmony with the mission of the entity
• Ensure that policies and procedures are understood and implemented

Ineffective Standards or Performance Measures

• Establish effective standards and performance measures
• Periodically review to ensure effectiveness of standards and performance measures

Insufficient Reporting Data

• Evaluate available data
• Expand data gathering or data-system capacity if necessary
• Structure data so as to effectively communicate the entity’s effectiveness in achieving standards and performance measures

We support Utah’s special districts so they can be the very best they can be! You might find this best practices manual, published by the Legislative Auditor General, helpful. The members area of our website also has links to a variety of templates you can use for such things as purchasing policies, personnel manuals or bylaws. As always, we welcome your suggestions of resources that other members might find useful!