Public Management Reports

These reports analyze government operations and recommend potential for higher effectiveness and efficiency. They also measure government performance over time striving to improve fiscal and managerial responsibility.

2008

Maintaining Municipal Parks: Thinking Outside the Picnic Basket

This report discusses Worcester’s parks and the challenges the City faces with maintaining these facilities in light of budget cuts and decreasing revenues. Based on our analysis of parks in other cities, The Research Bureau offers some options to help maintain parks and recreational facilities in Worcester.

Where Have All the Bidders Gone?: The Impact of “Responsibility” on

Public Construction

The report examines why the City of Worcester receives so few bids on public construction projects and why those bids frequently have projected costs in excess of the City’s estimates. Recommendations for ameliorating this situation are included.

Read The Reseach Bureau's testimony to the Worcester City Council  3/11/08 

2007

Benchmarking Municipal and Neighborhood Services in Worcester: 2007

Sixth annual report describing the performance of several municipal agencies including: the Department of Public Works and Parks, the Divisions of Housing and Code Enforcement, and the Worcester Public Library, as well as measuring residents' civic engagement.

Benchmarking Public Safety in Worcester: 2007

Fifth annual report measuring the performance of Worcester’s police department, fire department, and ambulance/emergency medical services.

Citizen Satisfaction with Municipal Services and Quality of Life in Worcester:

2006 Survey
Annual survey of citizen satisfaction with municipal services.

2006

Measures of Economic Health: Springfield vs. Worcester

The Springfield Finance Control Board asked The Research Bureau to compare Worcester and Springfield on critical indicators of economic health. The report shows substantial differences between the two cities.

Cable TV: Get With the Program

Analyzes the City of Worcester's cable contract with Charter Communications and examines cable licenses in 14 other cities.

Dial 911: Whose Call Is It, Anyway?

Analyzes first response to medical emergencies in Worcester and 35 other cities nationwide.

Benchmarking Municipal and Neighborhood Services in Worcester: 2006

Fifth annual report describing the performance of several municipal agencies including the Department of Public Works and Parks, Division of Code Enforcement, and the Worcester Public Library, as well as measuring residents' civic engagement.

Benchmarking Public Safety in Worcester: 2006

Fourth annual report measuring the performance of Worcester’s police, fire, and ambulance/emergency medical services.

Citizen Satisfaction with Municipal Services and Quality of Life in Worcester:

2005 Survey
Annual survey of citizen satisfaction with municipal services.

2005

Reorganizing Public Safety Functions: Considerations For and Against

At the request of the Worcester City Council, The Research Bureau prepared a study on the advantages and disadvantages of organizing public safety functions into a consolidated department of public safety.

Condition Serious, Prognosis Uncertain: The Impact of Municipal Employee Health Insurance in Massachusetts
The City of Worcester's health benefits are compared to towns in the Worcester vicinity, 28 larger cities and towns in Massachusetts, regional and national averages, and data from private employers.

Benchmarking Public Safety in Worcester: 2005

Third annual report measuring the performance of Worcester's police, fire, and

ambulance/emergency medical services.

Benchmarking Municipal & Neighborhood Services: 2005

2004
Citizen Satisfaction with Municipal Services: 2004 Survey
Third annual survey of citizen satisfaction with municipal services.

Respect for the Dead and Relief for the Budget: Can Privatization Improve Hope Cemetery?
Possible privatization of Hope Cemetery or its operations is examined.

Benchmarking Public Safety in Worcester: 2004

Third annual report measuring the performance of Worcester's police, fire, and

ambulance/emergency medical services.

2003
Citizen Satisfaction with Municipal Services: 2003 Survey
This presents the full data from the 2003 CCPM survey of Worcester residents regarding their satisfaction with municipal services and includes comparisons with data from previous years.

Benchmarking Municipal and Neighborhood Services
Second annual report benchmarking municipal and neighborhood services.

CompStat and CitiStat: Should Worcester Adopt these Management Techniques?
Analysis of how the adoption of CompStat and CitiStat, two municipal management programs, in Worcester could lead to improved performance of municipal agencies and increased accountability.

Benchmarking Public Safety
Performance measurement data related to public safety services provided by the Worcester Police Department, Worcester Fire Department, and UMass Memorial EMS (Emergency Medical Services).

2002
Citizen Satisfaction with Municipal Services: 2002 Survey
This presents the full data from the 2002 CCPM survey of Worcester residents regarding their satisfaction with municipal services and includes comparisons with data from previous years.

Benchmarking Municipal and Neighborhood Services
Data related to a variety of City services including those provided by the Department of Public Works; the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cemetery; and the Worcester Public Library.

2001
The Use of Project Labor Agreements on Public Construction Projects: The Case For and Against
Examines use of Project Labor Agreements for public construction projects.

The Future of Public Housing in Worcester
The changing national landscape of public housing, in combination with recent administrative and other changes made by the Worcester Housing Authority (WHA), presents an opportunity to review public housing in Worcester and consider areas for improvement.

2000
Municipal Employee Health Benefits: A Comparison with Other Communities
A review of municipal employee health benefit contributions paid by municipalities across the Commonwealth.

"Windshield Time" or "Wrench Time": Some Proposals for Improving Worcester's Fleet Management
Feasibility study on consolidating the City's garages.

1996

EMS in Worcester: Who Should Provide It?

1995

Emergency Communications & Dispatch: A Comparison of Worcester and Six Other Cities