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<br /> I <br /> When I started my local government career 30 I <br /> years ago as a junior recreation leader, I knew what <br /> my job was. It was a simple, straightforward job of .. <br /> delivering services to the community. If the job <br /> changed, an orderly process for implementing that <br /> change was explained, and the adjustment was made. I <br /> Now that I am a city manager, however, I am <br /> confused-not only about the nature of my job but I <br /> about the very business of local government. The <br /> confusion stems from the incredibly different realities I <br /> now facing cities and counties as we approach the <br /> third millennium. I <br /> A Brave New World I <br /> What does today's perplexing external environment look <br /> like? This brave ne\\' \,,"orld has five characteristics: I <br /> 1. Problems facing local gm:ernment are complex <br /> and difficult to solve. For example, no one can cite <br /> the one definite cause of community violence, or for .. <br /> that matter of pO\'erty, neighborhood deterioration, <br /> or why Johnny cannot read. These types of con- <br /> temporary problems are qualitatively more complex I <br /> than the engineering issues once facing cities and <br /> suburbs as they grc\v up in decades past. <br /> 2, No one agency, including government, can solve I <br /> the problems, No one agency can deal with family <br /> dysfunction or the loss of jobs. Every worth\vhile <br /> effort requires collaboration and partnering among <br /> organizations, thus deepening the complexity. I <br /> ;\'Ioreover, even with collaboration, the best that <br /> can be expected is to effectively address. not to <br /> solve. the problems. I <br /> 3. Local government does not have the financial <br /> resources to solve problems. ~lost local <br /> governments today are lucky if they have the <br /> funding simply to maintain current levels of core , <br /> services, No one expects additional funding to <br /> address the social and economic problems <br /> confounding our communities. Of course, a major I <br /> part of this fiscal dilemma is the shifting of costs <br /> from federal and state government to local <br /> government, giving us the legal responsibility to I <br /> address the issues, but \\"ithout adequate resources, <br /> + Citizens have lost confidence in all institutions, <br /> including local government. In the past, people .. <br /> ~n'_ " _._._.._--._------~--.. " "~.__. ....-_.------~_._--------~, I <br />