SomerStat Data 

SomerStat is the performance management arm of City government that facilitates regular data-driven meetings between the Mayor and his department heads to help them make informed decisions, implement efficiencies and improve City services. More information about SomerStat is available online on the City's webpage. This page shows examples of the data that are being tracked in recent SomerStat meetings. Please feel free to comment or submit questions regarding these data on the ResiStat Blog.

 

ResiStat 2.0

A Harvard Kennedy School Master of Public Policy candidate completed his Policy Analysis Exercise (PAE) on Somerville's ResiStat program.  The report looks at input from residents (using an online survey that you may have participated in), as well as information from City staff, and from the observation of a ResiStat community meeting.  It provides both an in-depth look at how the program currently works, and recommendations on how to move forward in the future.

Crime Data
Data on crimes reported in Somerville over the past six months is available through CrimeReports.com.  Information is available on crimes by type, time period, and location down to the street level.  Just click on the link below and search for "Somerville, MA."
Data from CrimeReports.com

Budget Data
During the budgeting process for fiscal year 2010, Somerville engaged a Financial Advisory Committee to conduct an extensive review of information about the Somerville’s finances and municipal operations. To view the FY10 Proposed Budget, documents from the FAC, and past fiscal year budgets, please visit the link below.
Current and Past Fiscal Year Budget Data

Mayor-for-a-Day Exercise
Residents were invited to work with data that City officials used this spring to make budget decisions. Feel free to try the exercise yourself. The PowerPoint attachment explains the decision areas available for discussion and the Excel sheet shows the analysis City officials undertook. Also attached below are comments from participants.
PowerPoint Decision Area Explanation
Data Analysis Exercise
Feedback from Participants

Resident Survey Data
Somerville has conducted multiple surveys to solicit feedback and input from its residents. Results and analysis of some recent surveys can be found below.
FY10 Resident Budget Survey
2006 Resident Survey
ResiStat Meeting Survey
ResiStat Mailing List Survey

Recycling Rates

The Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and the Environment (OSE) works with the Department of Public Works to monitor the tonnage of solid waste and recycling being hauled out of the city each week. The table to the right shows the average tons of recycling and trash picked up by each day of the week.

 

To view additional data about the City’s recycling rates, including a map of collection routes, please click here.

 

Airplane Noise

Currently,  lawyers for the City of Somerville are currently arguing in court that Logan Airport may have violated the terms of a 2004 legal ruling that cleared the way for the construction of Runway 14/32 at Boston's Logan International Airport. That ruling, made in the case of Massport v. City of Boston et al (Somerville was a party to the case), allowed construction of the new runway on the understanding that it was to be used only under certain wind conditions. To aid the City in this legal process, residents were asked to submit descriptions of how airplane noise over the City affects their daily lives. To view the submitted responses, please click here.

Data from External Sources

The Census has data on the City's demographics, economy, and social make up, as well as many other interesting statistics about the City.

Massachusetts Department of Revenue has a useful website with tons of data regarding state and local budgets, especially in the 'Municipal Data Bank' section.

The Massachusetts Department of Education has some great data online concerning individual public schools as well as broader school districts.

The FBI has detailed spreadsheets documenting crime in every county of each state, and can provide some interesting information.

The University of Michigan has compiled a massive amount of information about different communities across the United States, including specific group studies and Census 2000 interpretation.

The Boston Metropolitan Area Planning Council has put together a fantastic website that details new developments in the Greater Boston area, and its data section has some wonderfully fresh ideas and analyses.