Mission:  In concert with the objectives of the Bluegrass Area Development District, the mission of the Public Administration Services Division is to enhance the quality of life of the citizens of the District through providing local officials a variety of tools to increase the information they need to make informed choices for their citizens.

Goal:  Make available (through consultation and direct service) the technical expertise required to provide elected and appointed local governmental officers with the assistance necessary to create the atmosphere in which governmental management decisions can be supported through best management practices and proactive research.

Purpose:    The Department for Community and Economic Development stands ready to make available to local communities assistance and guidance in the areas of management and governance.  Public Administration Services come in a broad spectrum of activities and technical support measures directly related to local government, and include efforts that assist local entities and state agencies in better serving their constituents.  This support can generally be classified in four general areas:  1) financial assistance, 2) personnel assistance, 3) compliance assistance; and, 4) general research.

Specifically, the Public Administration Services support staff is directed with the responsibility of being able to provide a host of technical abilities including:

• financial assistance--in such areas as revenue assessment, budgeting and control, cash flow analysis, purchasing, data management, payroll administration, bonding and debt service;
  
  
• personnel assistance--in areas such as job analysis and classification, wage and salary administration, performance evaluation, records management, and employee job descriptions and hiring;
  
  
• compliance assistance--in regulatory areas regarding conformity with statutes, Kentucky Administrative Regulations,  and ordinances;
  
  
• general research—ability to conduct a broad range of technically valid research functions and analyses as needed by individual governments.

Ability:  The District’s Department for Community and Economic Development supports a 12-member staff, five of whom hold master’s degrees in the areas of management, planning, engineering, and municipal governance.    Additionally, the broader Area Development District staff with its vast intellectual properties and numerous years of experiential learning may be drawn upon as may be needed to support any of a vast array of activities which might be desired. 

Breadth of Services:  Provide general management research and technical assistance.

• Assist local governments and other public agencies in complying with budgeting, financial management, and accounting requirements established by statute.
  
  
• Assist local government officials and other public agencies in the development, implementation, and maintenance of personnel management systems such as ordinances, policies, classification plans, employee records, employee handbooks, and affirmative action plans/statements.
  
  
• Conduct on-site assessments, gathering data and information, evaluating functional requirements; write position descriptions and construct organizational charts.
  
  
• Conduct salary surveys, evaluate salary data; develops pay plans in concert with local governing authorities.
  
  
• Act as a technical advisor to local communities with regard to community and economic development, revitalization, capital improvement programming, and other areas of public interest.
  
  
• Monitor standard federal laws and regulations affecting local governments.
  
  
• Assist local officials in determining new or revised fiscal policies through researching financial alternatives and providing advice on topics related to finance.
  
  
• Function as a planner for grants and grant packages.  Provides technical assistance to organizations and individuals in the preparation of grant applications.
  
  
• Calculate annual real and personal property tax rates for municipalities.
  
  
• Provide research on topics of specific interest to individual local entities.