Accounting for Department Operations
Facing our challenges:
Effective internal operations maximize the amount of resources available to further on-the-ground habitat improvements and recreation opportunities. We intend to further strengthen Missourians’ confidence by continually improving our operations, responding to public needs and investing conservation revenues wisely. In everything the Department does, we will strive to ask and listen to Missourians, use science-based information, be frugal with taxpayer funds and hire excellent employees.
Goal: The Conservation Department will operate effectively with accountability for public funds and respect for Missouri citizens.
Results we want to achieve:
- Missouri citizens providing frequent input into Conservation Department decisions and programs.
- Conservation efforts led by a highly trained, diverse, technologically skilled and professional staff.
- Fair and ethical business methods that enable Missourians to see how public funds are spent on conservation priorities.
What we will do:
- Listen to Missourians through public meetings, public forums, one-on-one conversations, the Ombudsman, surveys and focus groups.
- Recruit and retain a professional workforce and implement programs that more closely reflect the diverse demographics, interests and needs of Missouri citizens.
- Create an annual report for distribution to Missourians detailing Department actions, performance and budget for each fiscal year.
- Analyze Department business systems and processes and continually seek improvement.
- Continue to employ full-time internal auditors who perform regular, independent audits to ensure that public funds are expended in a responsible manner.
- Accelerate conservation efforts by securing additional federal and private funding for key conservation priorities.
What Missourians tell us
Nearly two-thirds of Missourians rate the Conservation Department as doing an “Excellent” or a “Good” job in providing services for themselves (64 percent), their family (63 percent), their community (61 percent) and the state of Missouri (67 percent).
One in four Missourians responded “Don’t know” about the services the Conservation Department is providing for themselves, their family, their community and the state of Missouri.
This tells us that there are still opportunities for the Conservation Department to improve its effectiveness and to inform Missourians about its efforts.
