Government Performance Review Findings identified $35 million in savings opportunities for Delaware
Last week, Delaware Gov. Jack Markell released the findings of the first phase of his Government Performance Review, which identified $35 million in savings opportunities that helped bridge the historic shortfall in the fiscal 2010 operating budget.
The savings identified for fiscal 2010 are achieved through making government efficient — shrinking the state’s vehicle fleet, reducing procurement costs, closing museums, grounding state police aircraft, etc. — and consolidating government functions and optimizing fees and other revenues, such as conducting a tax amnesty.
“State government must be smaller and more efficient. My administration is committed to making that happen,” Markell said. “I commissioned this report on my first full day in office so my administration can give Delawareans the best value for their tax dollars. The first phase, focusing on things that could have immediate impact, is done. The work on larger cost savings – efforts to consolidate government functions across agencies or find efficiencies at every level of government for example – continues. We must shrink government so we can have the resources necessary to invest in Delaware’s economy.”
The Government Performance Review efforts continue as the administration prepares its fiscal 2011 budget proposal. The Governor has asked agencies to continue to identify and report to him on additional savings opportunities that could be incorporated into next year’s spending plan.