By Kathryn Kretschmer-Weyland
September 15, 2008

These are tough times for municipal government. Amidst shrinking budgets, reduced revenue and rising costs, municipalities are hard pressed to fund the essentials such as enhanced services, capital improvement projects, infrastructure replacement, environmental programs and other pressing community needs. Every dollar counts.

As economic pressures grow, one employee-owned firm in St. Paul (MN) has been partnering with municipal governments across the country, helping these organizations save significant money by making operations more efficient. Established in 1975, EMA, Inc. has been delivering consistently for clients for nearly 35 years through process improvement, technology, best practices and performance measures that produce quantifiable results.

“We go into a city and find better ways of doing things,” said Judithann Cascio, who leads the firm’s municipal government consulting services. “That saves you money – money that you can use to fund the key priorities of your administration.”

As the only municipal government consulting firm endorsed by The U.S. Conference of Mayors, EMA focuses on its strengths, providing clients with a full complement services in three primary areas:

• Process reengineering and organizational development;

• Comprehensive technology services 311 Call Center engineering, enterprise asset management, geospatial mapping, IS integration, enterprise resource planning and utility process control and automation;

• Municipal green programs that save money and also sustain the environment.

EMA’s success correlates directly to its strong client relationships. Eighty percent of the firm’s work stems from repeat business that has been built on identifying client needs and then consistently delivering results. Cascio cites the following examples of how EMA has helped governments simplify operations and save costs so they can get down to business:

Corpus Christi (TX): EMA helped standardize operations and adopt best practices and new technology, which has saved the city millions of dollars through more efficient work practices and processes, a reduced utility debt that generated an improved bond rating and a world-class customer care and service delivery system.

Honolulu Board of Water Supply: EMA integrated a Geographic Information System (GIS) with the Board’s work and asset management program, which has reduced field crew travel time by 50 percent, saved the Board tens of thousands of dollars annually and significantly improved the quality of its enterprise asset data.

Hartford (CT): Implementation of a 311 call center has delivered sizable cost savings through stronger performance management practices and more efficient work processes. 311 also has improved customer service to the community. Says Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez: “311 … helps us get the job done fast and right – the first time.”

For municipalities that believe they are too cash strapped to contract services, Cascio explains what she has told many other organizations that are now EMA clients: “You will find the money to do what you need to do through the cost savings you realize.”

Even in tough times, EMA knows its services help clients realize major benefits. Significant cost savings, substantial return on investment, more efficient operations, and improved customer service reflect on a municipality in very positive ways. For more information about EMA, contact Kathryn Kretschmer-Weyland at 301-460-5251 or send e-mail to kweyland@usmayors.org.