Executive Summary

KPMG was engaged by the Township of Russell to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the services and programs currently being provided by the municipality, how those programs and services are being delivered, and the level by which they are being delivered. The objective of this review was to assist the Township create a long-term solution-based plan to meet the increasing complexities of delivering municipal services, such as limited resources, operational challenges, and meeting community expectations.

As part of this work, alternatives were considered through an analysis of financial impact, citizen impact, risk and strategic alignment and opportunities were ranked by overall organizational impact. We considered benchmarking to peers to recommend right-sized service delivery improvement opportunities while recognizing the Township’s unique culture. KPMG observed the Township of Russell to be an overall lean and efficient municipal organization
managing and delivering a wide variety of services.

KPMG found that:

  • Russell’s growing population is requiring the Township to rethink its service delivery model in order to meet the needs of residents and communities and align with the Township’s vision and strategic priorities.
  • Council recognizes the challenge of balancing strategic service priorities with resource limitations while also trying to meet citizen expectations.
  • For citizen-facing services, there is an opportunity to streamline how customer inquiries are received and actioned.
  • Additional attention is needed on the approach to maintaining infrastructure; asset management could be centralized.
  • The Township deploys a lean resourcing model with lower levels of full-time staffing positions observed in general.
  • The Township is prioritizing automation of internal processes and workflows as well as using digital technology for service delivery.

KPMG assessed the qualitative, quantitative and comparative data to identify ten top opportunities with transformational impact. An additional sixteen observed trends in the municipal sector were identified that address inefficiencies on an ongoing basis that may require further investment for continuous improvements. We expect that these opportunities will achieve the following:

  1. Balance the needs of the communities within the Township for fiscal responsibility and service delivery.
  2. Modernize internal processes and operations through the use of technology.
  3. Realize a more cohesive organization with a focus on inter-departmental collaboration and continuous improvement.