Multnomah County has unveiled a new declaration of its vision, mission, and values for which it paid $250,000. The update is aimed at helping employees feel more connected to their work and shaping the county’s future plans. The consulting firm Coraggio Group worked with county staffers to survey employees and draft new guiding statements, which haven’t been updated since 2013. The county paid Coraggio in three installments for their work. Chair Jessica Vega Pederson emphasized the importance of updating these statements to meet current and future challenges.
Local governments often issue mission statements and update them periodically, as seen recently in Washington County. Multnomah County officials said the high price tag for the project covered a robust engagement process with employees. The new statements were made more concise and included language around diversity, equity, and inclusion. The consulting group worked with a committee of county workers to guide the process. Staffers involved in the project saw it as a way to unite county employees.
The updated statements mark the first phase of the county’s work on a strategic plan, to be carried out by a new unit under the county’s Chief Operating Officer. Portland has not renewed its mission statement recently, but could do so with new leadership next year. Despite the cost of the project, officials believe it was necessary to provide a better foundation for the county’s operations. The county aims to create a foundational and indispensable organizational plan based on the new guiding principles.
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