As part of its ongoing effort to improve performance and transparency, in August 2011 the City of Williamsburg launched the web-based system of Public Dashboards that graphically display real time data on the City's performance across all City operations. Anyone with internet access can view at any time "live" information derived from City systems.

The Public Dashboards are organized by the goal areas of City Council's Goals, Initiatives and Outcomes (GIOs), representing the major goals of City Council for the biennium, ranging from Community Engagement and Character of the City to Economic Vitality and Environmental Sustainability. The metrics help the City understand how it's progressing using indicators such as retail sales, hotel room rentals, the energy usage in City facilities and EMS response time. In addition to real-time information, the charts and graphs include data from previous fiscal years and National Citizen Survey results to show trends and benchmarks.

The Dashboards are accessible at www.williamsburgva.gov/dashboards and link from the City's home page. To view them, you must have Microsoft's Silverlight plugin, which is available free of charge from Microsoft.com in PC and Mac versions. The link to the plugin is on the City website. The Dashboards are also displayed on computers in the lobby of the Municipal Building.

The Dashboards are part of the City's Performance Management System, which received a 2010 Governor's Technology Award as a driver for innovation and increased efficiency, and the International City/County Management Association Center for Performance Measurement Certificate of Distinction. Monthly operating and financial reports are also available online at williamsburgva.gov/monthlyreports.

The metrics featured in the category are:

Meal Tax Revenue (since 2004)

Room Tax Revenue (since 2004)

Local 1% Sales Tax by Quarter (since 2004)

Combined Meal, Room & Sales Tax Revenue (since FY 2005)

Number of Restaurants in the City (since 2007)

Number of Hotels/Motels in the City (since 2008)

Number of Hotel/Motel Room Nights Sold (since 2006)

Tourism Return on Investment -- The amount of revenue realized by the City versus the amount of money allocated for Tourism Promotion through contributions by the City to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and the Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance. (since 2000)

For more information please contact Kate Hoving, Communications Specialist, City of Williamsburg
 757.220.6197 or. khoving@williamsburgva.gov.