Align resources and staffing to meet increasing and changing service demand.

By monitoring demographic changes in the community and promoting communication and collaboration within, County departments can identify opportunities for continuous improvement and provide services that are accessible, responsive, and customer focused. These practices can be used to guide resource allocation and promote efficient and effective delivery of services.

Strategic Objectives

• Gaston County Public Works will increase departmental gross square footage by 2% by FY 2028.

• Gaston County Public Works will work to fill open positions within eight weeks from posting to accepted offer.

• Gaston County Public Works will reduce the Square Foot-to-FTE (trades) ratio 50% by FY 2028.

• Gaston County Tax Office will ensure that 50% of staff is divisionally cross trained to assist with deficits and enhance customer and public service by FY 2027.

• Gaston County Information Technology will strive to repurpose more than 2% of employee time as a result of improved processes and technology utilization by FY 2028.

• Gaston County Information Technology will work to maintain a customer satisfaction rate equal to or greater than 97% annually through FY 2028.

• Gaston County Information Technology will work to fill vacancies within six weeks of initial posting annually through FY 2028.

• Gaston County Information Technology will increase exposure to high school and college students by two actions annually through FY 2028.

One Gaston 2040

• Collaborate and build coalitions

• Welcome and value diversity

• Promote health and wellness

• Improve mobility, connectivity, and accessibility

• Enable broadband internet access

• Strengthen childcare and early childhood education

• Ready students for college and careers

• Strengthen targeted economic development

• Gaston County Finance will shift five manual processes to automated processes to improve operational efficiencies by FY 2028.

• Gaston County Finance will improve departmental bank reconciliation productivity by 10% by FY 2028.

• Gaston County Finance will decrease excessive hours beyond an average of 40 hours per workweek for all department staff 5% annually through FY 2028.

• Gaston County Finance will improve overall employee satisfaction by 10% by FY 2028.

• Gaston County Human Resources will work to increase employee retention by 10% by FY 2028.

• Gaston County Cooperative Extension (Volunteer Management) will increase the number of participants who acquire skills needed to serve as a volunteer by 20% by FY 2028.

• Gaston County Cooperative Extension (Volunteer Management) will increase the number of volunteer hours by 20% by FY 2028.

• Gaston County Cooperative Extension (Volunteer Management) will increase the number of client contacts made by volunteers by 20% by FY 2028.

• Maximize housing options

• Provide adequate infrastructure

• Retain character and natural amenities

• Generate pride and positive perceptions

• Leverage arts and culture

Goal 2

Gaston County values data collection and the utilization of data to share impacts relative to organizational performance. Data collection and sharing promote a culture of accountability, trust, and data-driven d ecision making.

Strategic Objectives

• Gaston County Budget and Strategy will increase Gaston County’s internal data literacy rate by 20% by FY 2028.

One Gaston 2040

• Collaborate and build coalitions

• Welcome and value diversity

• Promote health and wellness

• Improve mobility, connectivity, and accessibility

• Enable broadband internet access

• Strengthen childcare and early childhood education

• Ready students for college and careers

• Strengthen targeted economic development

• Maximize housing options

• Provide adequate infrastructure

• Retain character and natural amenities

• Generate pride and positive perceptions

• Leverage arts and culture

Strategic Objectives

• Gaston County Communications Office will work to increase interaction to social media posts by 10% annually through FY 2028.

• Gaston County Communications Office will work to increase the number of Savvy Citizen Podcast subscribers 100% annually through FY 2028.

• Gaston County Communications Office will work to maintain a 90%-95% customer experience rating for users of the Gaston County website through FY 2028.

• Gaston County Communications Office will increase engagement to reach at least 20% of the Gaston County Spanish-speaking community by FY 2028.

• Gaston County Human Resources will collaborate with departments to ensure that 95% of identified tech roles within the County will have clear/comprehensive succession plans by FY 2028.

• Gaston County Board of Elections will ensure that 100% of new Federal and State voting and election laws are posted to the County Election website and social media accounts within 10 business days of receiving guidance from the North Carolina State Board of Elections annually through FY 2028.

Goal 3

Improve internal and external flow of information.

Promoting open communication and knowledge transfer are foundational components to the Gaston County Core Values. Likewise, clear and concise communication and the transfer of information with those we serve not only enhances the user experience but also improves County operations and performance.

One Gaston 2040

• Collaborate and build coalitions

• Welcome and value diversity

• Promote health and wellness

• Improve mobility, connectivity, and accessibility

• Enable broadband internet access

• Strengthen childcare and early childhood education

• Ready students for college and careers

• Strengthen targeted economic development

• Maximize housing options

• Provide adequate infrastructure

• Retain character and natural amenities

• Generate pride and positive perceptions

• Leverage arts and culture