Performance management is one of the pillars of professionalism in local government, and ICMA promotes it by recognizing jurisdictions that are committed to collecting, using, and sharing performance data. ICMA does this each year by awarding Certificates in Performance Management to recognize exemplary performance management programs, encourage comparative analysis, and reward transparency.

Certificates are based on established criteria and are awarded at three levels—Achievement, Distinction, and Excellence (the highest level):

• Recipients at all levels collect and verify data to ensure reliability, train staff in performance measurement, and report data to the public through budgets, newsletters, and/or information provided to elected officials.
• Certificates of Distinction are awarded to those who also use performance data in strategic planning and operational decision-making and share their knowledge with other local governments through presentations, site visits, and other networking activities.
• Certificates of Excellence go to those who, in addition, track and report key outcomes in addition to inputs and outputs, survey residents and local government employees, incorporate data into performance dashboards or other visual communications, and foster the development of a performance culture throughout their organizations.

In addition to receiving recognition, certificate recipients contribute to a body of knowledge when they submit examples of their public reporting formats, scorecards, strategic plans, and other initiatives as part of the application. ICMA shares leading practices through conference sessions, workshops, articles, and downloadable documents, and on the Certificate Program website page, which has links to dozens of examples.

Applications for the 2017 certificates will be accepted through May 5, 2017, but now is a good time to review the criteria and application to ensure that your program addresses all the requirements. The application fee is $195 and can be paid using the 2017 Payment Voucher.

In 2016, ICMA awarded Certificates in Performance Management to 53 local governments. The recipients are listed on the ICMA website and were officially recognized at ICMA’s 102nd Annual Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, in September 2016.

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