Benchmarking Your Policy

Hillsborough Parks:

A True Story

Tax Reform

Recession

Conservative Elected Officials

Parks Budget Imploded

VERY

Tradition of Free Parks

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Alternatives Available

Facility Closures

Shut Down Programs

Sell Assets

Expand/Raise Usage Fees

How Do We Inform Policy Choices?

We use data to:

Describe current situation

Quantify different business models

Project outcomes from our choices

How NOT to Inform Policy Makers?

Dazzle them with data

Tell them their policy must change

Assume they think like you do

DO NOT:

Simple Steps to Inform Policy Makers

Craft your message to audience

Choose correct media/mediumfor your message

Pick the right messenger

Our Message

Not

We must raise fees

….Instead

Everybody else charges WAY more than us

Our Media/Medium

FBC Data To The Rescue

The Messenger

An Outsider

Not invested to the problem

An expert in policy

Florida Benchmarking Consortium (FBC):

An Overview

© The Florida Benchmarking Consortium 2009

Presentation by Larry Martin, PhD to Hillsborough BOCC, Spring 2009

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TAMPA, FLORIDA 33601

BOARD POLICY – SECTION NO.: 03.04.09.00 SUBJECT: FEE SCHEDULE FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PARKS,

RECREATION AND CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 3, 2010 SUPERSEDES: September 2, 2009

Purpose: To establish a user fee schedule for the Parks, Recreation and Conservation

Department.

Policy: The Board of County Commissioners retains authority to review and approve

a user fee schedule for services in Parks, Recreation and Conservation for athletics, managed parks, and recreation.

Revised Fee Schedule attached.

Thanks for Coming