Methodology: Relative Gov Efficiency Score

The overall Relative Gov Efficiency Score is calculated using a weighted average of scores from eight key categories:

• Financial Management (20% weight)
• Public Safety (20% weight)
• Infrastructure (15% weight)
• Public Services (10% weight)
• Administrative Efficiency (10% weight)
• Environmental Sustainability (10% weight)
• Economic Development (10% weight)
• Social Services (5% weight)

Each category score is normalized to a 0-100 scale before applying the weights. The final score is the sum of these weighted category scores.

The Financial Management score is based on four key metrics:

• Debt-to-Revenue Ratio: Lower is better, normalized to 0-1 scale
• Operating Ratio: Closer to 1 is better, scores highest at 1
• Fund Balance Percentage: Higher is better, normalized to 0-1 scale (max at 30%)
• Revenue Diversity Index: Higher is better, already on 0-1 scale

The category score is the average of these four normalized metrics.

The Public Safety score is calculated using four metrics:

• Emergency Response Time: Lower is better, normalized to 0-1 scale (2-10 minutes)
• Violent Crime Rate: Lower is better, normalized to 0-1 scale (50-500 per 100,000)
• Fire Incident Response Success Rate: Higher is better, already on 0-100 scale
• Percentage of Crimes Solved: Higher is better, already on 0-100 scale

The category score is the average of these four normalized metrics.

The Infrastructure score is based on three metrics:

• Road Quality Index: Higher is better, already on 0-100 scale
• Water Main Break Frequency: Lower is better, normalized to 0-1 scale (5-50 breaks per 100 miles)
• Bridge Safety Percentage: Higher is better, already on 0-100 scale

The category score is the average of these three normalized metrics.

The Public Services score is calculated using two metrics:

• Trash Collection Reliability Rate: Higher is better, already on 0-100 scale
• Recycling Program Effectiveness: Higher is better, normalized to 0-1 scale (10-50% diversion rate)

The category score is the average of these two normalized metrics.

The Administrative Efficiency score is based on two metrics:

• Digital Service Adoption Rate: Higher is better, normalized to 0-1 scale (20-80%)
• Online Services Percentage: Higher is better, already on 0-100 scale

The category score is the average of these two normalized metrics.

The Environmental Sustainability score is calculated using two metrics:

• Energy Efficiency of Municipal Buildings: Higher is better, already on 0-100 scale
• Renewable Energy Usage Percentage: Higher is better, already on 0-100 scale

The category score is the average of these two metrics.

The Economic Development score is based on two metrics:

• Job Growth Rate: Higher is better, normalized to 0-1 scale (-5% to 10% annual growth)
• Commercial Vacancy Rate: Lower is better, normalized to 0-1 scale (0-20% vacancy)

The category score is the average of these two normalized metrics.

The Social Services score is calculated using three metrics:

• Senior Services Availability: Higher is better, normalized to 0-1 scale (1-10 scale)
• Youth Program Participation Rate: Higher is better, normalized to 0-1 scale (10-50%)
• Affordable Housing Access: Higher is better, normalized to 0-1 scale (1-10 scale)

The category score is the average of these three normalized metrics.