Supervisors OK review of county government

By Brandon Shulleeta | 978-7245
Published: July 2, 2008

An institute has been asked to study the efficiency of Albemarle government. The county Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the review Wednesday.

The Commonwealth Educa-tional Policy Institute will do a one-time review of how the county uses its money, staff and facilities.

“I think one of our responsibilities is to be as efficient as possible with our resources,” Supervisor Dennis S. Rooker said in a phone interview Wednesday. “This will be a tool to ... hopefully, save taxpayer money.”

The public institute, housed at Virginia Commonwealth University, has reviewed several school systems and governments in Virginia, including Albemarle County schools in 2007.

The institute will conduct interviews with government officials and seek input from residents in an effort to examine all county operations, William Bosher Jr. said. Bosher is the CEPI executive director and a former Virginia superintendent of schools.

The institute is expected to complete the review by Dec. 1 — detailing recommendations and observations.

The study is expected to cost about $89,000, largely to pay researchers.

“A process like this involves many hours, because it’s labor intensive,” Bosher said.

But the report likely will save the county money, Rooker said. Albemarle schools can save $400,000 each year by following CEPI efficiency recommendations, he said.

The 58-page report to Albemarle schools, presented to the School Board in December 2007, included 176 findings and observations, according to school officials.