The public opinion survey was announced in a press conference Wednesday with Commission Chairman Mark Hartley stressing the importance of citizens participating in the decision-making process.

"Our mission is to examine the government," Hartley said, "and bring the recommendations by year-end to County Council."

The survey can be found by selecting the hotlink titled Public Opinion Survey on the Charleston County Web site, www.charlestoncounty.org. A hard copy can also be found in most public buildings.

While it is expected to take no longer than 15 minutes to complete, it asks 64 questions ranging from citizens' experiences with the different forms of government, to their age and education. The majority of the questions are in multiple choice form, with several areas for more detailed comment.

The deadline for the survey is Aug. 8, at which point the responses will be given to the management commission. The commission will then make recommendations and present them to County Council by January 2005.

"We hope the commission will come up with recommendations from the citizens because our goal in this process is to create a cheaper and more effective government," County Council Chairman Barrett Lawrimore said.

An employee survey was produced several months ago in the same form as the citizen version available now, and Hartley said the response was encouraging. Over 700 surveys were completed.

MAP was created in January 2004 with a unanimous vote by Charleston County Council and is modeled after a similarly named commission created by Gov. Mark Sanford in 2003.

"Charleston County is the first county to make a commission like this one. Georgetown County started one recently, but we were the first to create one after the governor's was so successful," Hartley said.

The MAP Commission is divided into eight subcommittees: government organizational structure, budget finance and accounting, information and technology, human resource issues, asset management, transportation, procurement and outsourcing, and public safety. Hartley said all of the subcommittees are composed of members of the commission and are open to the public.

"We welcome volunteers from the public to become involved," Hartley said. "We're looking for better ways to do what we're doing."

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