For Immediate Release
July 7, 2010
Contact: Nathan Flood
717-787-4420
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A Conversation with Senator Brubaker

Cost Study Commission Offers Recommendations to Save Taxpayer Dollars

Last year, I cosponsored a resolution in the Senate to study the management of current government operations to identify areas where state government can save taxpayer dollars. After several months of soliciting suggestions from state residents and members of the public and private sectors, the Senate Government Management and Cost Study Commission recently released its final report detailing more than 40 recommendations to reduce or eliminate government spending and streamline government services. I am hopeful that we can implement many of these suggestions to provide significant future cost savings to taxpayers.

The Commission's final report included a recommendation to adopt legislation I introduced last month that would implement and enforce stricter vehicle use policies for state employees. My proposal would require state employees to use the least expensive form of state travel. During a hearing on state travel costs, Enterprise Holdings estimated that vehicle use reform would save the Commonwealth at least $10 million over the next three years. All of the state travel reforms suggested by the Commission could save up to $18 million over the next three years.

The final report also identified a number of potential cost savings within the Department of Corrections, including alternative sentencing guidelines, parole and re-entry programs, problem-solving courts and other measures to reduce recidivism. I discussed many of these proposals in a recent column, and I am hopeful that we can implement these changes in the coming months. The Commission estimated that all of its Department of Corrections reform proposals could generate more than $58 million in annual savings within three years.

In addition to these recommendations, the Commission suggested that the General Assembly conduct a comprehensive review of grant and loan programs administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development, study the procurement system in state government and explore additional measures to ensure that taxpayer dollars are invested wisely.

The Commission's recommendations were not limited to state agency spending. The final report recommended that the General Assembly review its own caucus staff functions to consolidate services and streamline operations. The Commission also suggested a comprehensive review of the current per diem system for legislators. These measures are vital to ensure that the legislature is using tax dollars wisely, and both of these measures will have my enthusiastic support. The report also suggested cost-savings measures in the judicial branch, such as a proposal to eliminate the position of jury commissioner.

The Commission's recommendations cover a broad range of suggestions to reduce government spending within the executive, legislative and judicial branches of state government, and it is estimated that all of their recommendations could save more than $400 million over the next three years. However, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely is an ongoing process. The final report suggested that each standing committee in the General Assembly offer at least one cost-cutting suggestion for the state agencies they oversee, and I believe this is an excellent start toward creating greater efficiency. I am hopeful that these recommendations will be the first step in a long process of streamlining government services, eliminating unnecessary government spending and ensuring that tax dollars are not lost due to waste or inefficiency.