Thought Leadership
Process Improvement
4 Lessons COVID-19 Reminds us About Building Department Cost-Effectiveness
April 16, 2020 | Joe DeRosa
It’s no secret that the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has wreaked havoc on your annual budget. Municipalities and Building Departments across the country aren’t unaffected by the recent economics, either. However, in times like these it remains paramount to focus on what must go into creating and managing effective budgets. Fortunately, there are proven … Continued
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Process Improvement
Safety and the Unseen Repercussions of the Backlogs in U.S. Cities Due to Closures From the Pandemic
September 30, 2020 | Joe DeRosa
Recently we covered the many possible solutions for building department backlogs in municipalities across the country. While the immediate focus has been on the most efficient service delivery options as a means to help reduce budgetary impacts and keep projects moving, the risks to community health and safety also rise when those backlogs linger. Even … Continued
Process Improvement
Three Things Municipalities Can Implement in 30 days To Possibly Avoid Budget Cuts
September 28, 2020 | Joe DeRosa
Municipalities continue to struggle during the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, 74% of municipalities in the United States have already started making unavoidable cuts and adjustments in response to the projected $360 billion revenue loss for cities over the next three years, according to cititsspeak.org. Within that same article, which is based on a survey of nearly … Continued
Innovation
Helpful Resources for Mayors and Elected Officials During COVID-19
September 15, 2020 | Marie Buchholz
Recently in an open letter to the mayors of America, we discussed the importance of Building Department productivity, and the benefits of robust virtual service delivery. However, there are many helpful resources to aid municipalities and their leaders during this unprecedented time in our lives, and to help safely navigate the path forward. In an … Continued
Innovation
Construction & Development Leaders: Are you prepared for a COVID-19 surge?
September 11, 2020 | Joe DeRosa
This pandemic isn’t going away anytime soon. Recently, the U.S. began to see a rise in new confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus after a period of decline. National leaders and experts may disagree if this rise is indicative of a second wave, or a continuation of the first, but they agree that we will … Continued
Innovation
An Open Letter to Mayors of America
September 3, 2020 | Joe DeRosa
It’s easy to think that implementing virtual services will be a complex and lengthy process and will ultimately cost your municipality more money. However, municipalities across the country are, and have been, utilizing virtual systems to their benefit. Centennial, Colorado for years has enjoyed streamlined processes and reduced costs through SAFEbuilt’s virtual service delivery system … Continued
Process Improvement
Building Permits in the Age of COVID-19: Issuing Doesn’t Have to be an Issue
August 14, 2020 | Marie Buchholz
The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly led to the exploration and implementation of alternative service delivery methods for municipal building departments across the country. While the utilization rates of many electronically based platforms for services like Electronic Plan Review (EPR) and Remote Virtual Remote Inspections (RVI) are rising, online platform adaption for permitting seems to be … Continued
Process Improvement
COVID-19 and The Importance of Turning Fixed Costs into Variable Costs
August 12, 2020 | Marie Buchholz
The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has led to a cascade of difficult financial decisions. As tax and other revenues dropped off a cliff due to business closures, mass furloughs, and layoffs, state and local governments have likewise had to juggle budget shortfalls, employee furloughs, and meeting the ongoing needs of their communities. Fortunately, there is … Continued
Innovation
Community Leaders: Are you prepared for a second wave of COVID-19?
August 6, 2020 | Joe DeRosa
This pandemic isn’t going away anytime soon. In early June, the U.S. began to see a rise in new confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus after weeks of decline. National leaders and experts may disagree if this rise is indicative of a second wave, or a continuation of the first, but they agree that we … Continued