Montgomery County Commissioners participate in a reorganization meeting on Jan. 5, 2026. Pictured, from left, is Solicitor Benjamin Field, Montgomery County Commissioners’ Vice Chairman Neil Makhija, Chairwoman Jamila Winder and Commissioner Tom DiBello. (Photo courtesy Montgomery County PA)
Montgomery County officials say a relatively new county office focused on efficiency and performance has already produced major financial results, identifying $14 million in savings over the past year and cutting the county’s budget deficit roughly in half, according to a report.
The Office of Innovation, Strategy, and Performance (OISP), launched in February 2025, spent its first year working directly with county departments to pinpoint inefficiencies, streamline operations, and reduce unnecessary spending. Among the cost-saving measures were the elimination of nearly a dozen long-vacant positions, renegotiating a prescription benefits contract that saved about $1.5 million, and bringing certain legal services in-house to avoid outside costs, resulting in roughly $500,000 in savings.
County leaders say the office was created in response to mounting fiscal pressure, including a $632.7 million operating budget and a $25.5 million deficit that ultimately led to a 4% property tax increase for residents. The goal, they say, is not layoffs, but smarter use of taxpayer dollars.
The OISP grew out of the county’s former COVID-19 Recovery Office, which oversaw approximately $161 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding.
Project Director Eli Gilman said the 11-person office focused on changes that could be repeated year after year, such as eliminating vacancies unlikely to be filled and analyzing long-term spending trends. He described the office’s first year as a learning process that required building systems while actively using them.
Looking ahead, county leaders say the next phase could include carefully introducing artificial intelligence into county operations to reduce red tape and improve access to services. Ideas under discussion include AI-powered tools to help residents navigate court records or assist employees with routine administrative tasks.
Before any public rollout, officials say AI tools would be tested internally with clear governance rules in place. The county also plans to launch a public open-data site in the second half of 2026 to provide residents with more transparency into spending and service performance.
