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Measuring what matters
Performance measurement and benchmarking in municipal government
Performance measurement is more than compiling statistics. It is the discipline of understanding how programs and services are performing, identifying opportunities for improvement, and ensuring accountability to residents. At its core, it is about understanding people and processes. Photo: Adobe Stock
Published in
February 2026
- Page 33
Municipal governments are on the front lines of service delivery. From maintaining roads and parks to providing public safety and social programs, people rely on these essential services every day.
Without clear, reliable, transparent information, residents cannot see whether these essential services are effective, efficient, or improving. Likewise, municipal leaders are unable to explain why or why not their programs and services are working.
The value of performance measurement builds two-way accountability. Think about a
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