ABSTRACT
Santa Barbara County is designing a new vehicle to make government operations more effective, efficient, accountable and flexible. After a rocky start more than two years ago, Santa Barbara County's transformation program is in full swing. Chuck Wagner, current county administrative officer, called the report "a significant step, but still only a first step in our overall county transformation program to develop more effective and efficient county operations”. Wagner is developing a budget, timetable, and recommendations for implementation. Wagner was elevated from public works director to county administrative officer in November 1988 to oversee the transformation program. Wagner, who has worked for Santa Barbara County for nearly 30 years, considers himself a change agent. Those Santa Barbara County supervisors have accepted a strategic plan to strengthen the administrative office, the next step is implementation. One of the main hurdles facing supervisors is how to pay for the report's 20 recommendations when money is extremely tight.
