Study: County performance average

Mathis Winkler

Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2002 | 9:03 a.m.

Capital management: C+

Financial management: B+

Human resources management: C-

Information technology: C

Managing for results: B

Overall: C+

Source: Government

Performance Project

Clark County officials do a good job managing finances but could get better when it comes to dealing with employees, a national study says.

The Government Performance Project by New York's Syracuse University rates 40 of the nation's largest counties. Clark received an overall C+ grade, putting the county somewhere in the middle of the pack of those included in the national study, which was released today.

Maricopa County, Ariz., and Fairfax County, Va. topped the list, receiving grades of A-. Nassau County, N.Y. and Allegheny County, Pa., trailed the others with D grades.

Researchers chose the country's largest counties, according to revenue, and graded them based on an analysis of surveys completed by county government officials.

Clark County Manager Thom Reilly said his organization's ranking was "not something to be happy with."

Although he praised the overall project as a useful tool in identifying areas that need improvement and engaging residents in government, Reilly said county officials have already addressed several problems raised in the report.

Reilly said he did not come on board until after the survey was completed. He said he was surprised that researchers raised concerns about issues such as the county's difficulty in hiring top-level officials.

"I don't know where that came from," he said, adding that he has had no problem filling positions.

The report's summary findings on the county's performance in the five areas under review say: