Local Government Services
Local government leaders can benefit from insights and information that might otherwise be unavailable if not for the Institute's customized, comprehensive studies on such issues as service delivery, annexation, tax equity, departmental organization, incorporation, and consolidation.
Human Resource Management
Whether a government wants to ensure that its employees are being paid in line with current standards, carry out an executive search, or establish up-to-date promotional testing, the Institute's human resource management faculty are ready to offer expertise and experience that can help.
Survey Research
Policymakers need current, objective information as they consider critical issues facing the state. The Vinson Institute provides timely support for policy research and technical assistance activities for state and local governments as well as for other university programs.
Demographic Trends
Georgia leaders at all levels of government have help for informing their policy decisions ranging from aging to zoning through the regularly updated, consistent population data provided by the Applied Demography Program.
Evaluation
When local governments and state agencies launch new initiatives, they need a systematic way to determine if their activities are on track to meet their objectives. Evaluation experts at the Vinson Institute are skilled at assessing the effectiveness of different endeavors, from individual programs to interdepartmental or even systemwide efforts.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
From data creation through training, Institute specialists help government entities realize the benefits of GIS technology and smoothly integrate it into their operations. This assistance frequently relates to parcel mapping, digitizing paper maps and documents, integrating transportation/addressing systems, and helping make digital information more easily accessible to citizens.
Economic Studies
Government leaders with an eye on the future count on the Vinson Institute for customized economic forecasts using economic modeling services or specialized economic impact analyses on specific topics.
Environmental Policy
Special committees and commissions charged with developing state environmental policies—most recently in the areas of land use and state water resources—can make better informed decisions with the help of expert analysis provided by Institute faculty.
Legal Research
Public officials often need answers to complex legal matters—from personal liability to municipal and county revenue sources, and from interstate compacts to city/county consolidation. Institute attorneys respond to this need by providing analysis of local, state, and federal laws relevant to specific client studies, and they share their findings in the form of publications for general distribution.
Legislative Research
At the request of the Georgia General Assembly, the Vinson Institute provides timely, objective background research, often to support the work of a special study committee.
