Frequently Asked Questions

Strategic Planning is an organized management activity to ensure county resources, stakeholders, and decisions align towards a common goal and can adjust to changing environments. An effective plan will organize actions and progress while also serving as a measure of an organization’s success.

The Countywide Strategic Plan’s five-year timeline allows for thoughtful sequencing of initiatives to support positive outcomes for the Washington County community.

The county’s implementation plan will translate the priorities, goals, and objectives of the strategic plan into action steps with assigned responsibilities and established timelines. This will allow county departments to collaborate to achieve desired results. A process for regular monitoring and evaluation will be established to ensure continuous improvement and ongoing alignment with the county’s overarching goal.

Washington County will consult the strategic plan as part of our annual budget process to allow for responsible fund allocation to priorities consistent with community needs and the county’s long-term goals. The values expressed in this plan, inspired by in-depth stakeholder engagement, will drive county decision-making and service delivery. And, because the strategic plan is a living document, we will adapt and revise the plan as necessary to account for emerging needs and opportunities.

The county will monitor progress toward strategic plan goals and objectives and report on performance measures, maintaining transparency for and accountability to the public. County staff will provide regular updates to county leadership and present an annual progress report to the Board of Commissioners, which will be published on the county website. Community members can expect to understand the county’s progress toward our strategic priorities and the impacts for our residents, cities, towns, businesses, and the community overall.

You can download a copy of the digital Countywide Strategic Plan (PDF).

The strategic planning process is as important as the final document itself. Input was incorporated from across the organization, including county employees, leadership, and the Board of Commissioners, leading the strategic plan to not only be better aligned with our organization’s needs and aspirations, but to generate the organizational support necessary for its successful implementation.

Using feedback from Washington County cities and townships, as well as the biennial Resident Survey, the county was also able to incorporate community input to ensure we are being responsive to community priorities and needs.

Priorities, Goals, Objectives, and Performance Measures.

The county identified four Strategic Priorities or focus areas. These priorities and their supporting goals, objectives, and performance measures drive the county toward meaningful outcomes and big steps forward on the road to reaching our collective long-term vision. Goals define the long-term outcome for each priority. Objectives outline the actions the county will take to achieve the goals. Performance Measures specify how we will track and report our progress within each priority.

A strategic plan helps us identify a shared vision for the future and align our resources around a set of clearly defined priorities, goals, and objectives with clear measures for tracking progress and accountability.

The Washington County Board of Commissioners formally approved and adopted the new Countywide Strategic Plan at the Board Meeting on August 6, 2024.

If you have questions or concerns about the Strategic Plan, please send an email to administration@co.washington.mn.us or call 651-403-6001. Thank you.