Here’s another problem with “priorities”. If they are ranked (priority #1, etc.) – say there are 5 priorities, do you allocate all dollars to #1 as needed to fulfill it completely, leaving #5 and maybe #4 and #5 high and dry? Or do you attempt to fulfill all 5 priorities more or less equally if not ideally?

The County Guiding Principles have been around for more than 10 years and have served well, whether as a mission statement, a vision, or indeed a set of priorities. I think using them as a starting point is a good exercise.

Unfortunately, the guiding principles listed above are likely to lead to confusion, largely because they aren’t actually principles, but instead are a mixture of objectives, strategies, and tactics, lacking overarching goals or any principles as useful reference points or guides. Sizemore’s anticipation of a struggle might reflect experience with their limited value in past efforts.