Government ReformGovernment ReformA Brief History

Governor Wilder through Warner

and

A Few Ideas to Consider

Aneesh ChopraAneesh ChopraFormer Secretary of TechnologyFormer Secretary of Technology

“I see how much money we leave on the floor every day in Richmond and we are the best managed state in the country. Imagine how bad the other states must be!”

Reform Effort Not NewReform Effort Not New• Governor Doug Wilder 1990-1992Project Streamline• Governor George Allen 1994Blue Ribbon Strike Force on Government Reform • VA Gov’t Competition Act 1995Commonwealth Competition Council

Reform Efforts Con’tReform Efforts Con’tGovernor Warner – 2002

Commission on Efficiency and Effectiveness

“The Wilder Commission”

AG’s Regulatory Reform CommissionsAttorney General Jerry KilgoreAttorney General Bob McDonnell

Council on Virginia’s Future

Project Streamline – Gov. Project Streamline – Gov. WilderWilder

Many Recommendations Implemented

Not Implemented:

•Privatize Virginia Welcome Centers

Blue Ribbon Strike Force – Blue Ribbon Strike Force – Gov. AllenGov. Allen

160 Recommendations Suggested

77.5% Fully or partially implemented

18.75% Not implemented

3.75% No longer valid

Blue Ribbon Strike ForceBlue Ribbon Strike ForceFour Recommendations Not Implemented

• Eliminate use of Maximum Employment Levels when discussing state employment and replace it with a budget control system

• Increase privatization of mental health and mental retardation facilities, rehabilitation facilities and child support enforcement

Blue Ribbon Strike Force Blue Ribbon Strike Force ContinuedContinued

• Competitively bid more road maintenance

-- Interstates do it, not other roads

• Abolish the Compensation Board

Commonwealth Competition Commonwealth Competition CouncilCouncil

Created in 1995

Council Members appointed by General Assembly and Governor

Basically reduced to a footnote in the about 2002/03 period although Council still meets

CCC -- ContinuedCCC -- ContinuedAmong its Activities when “active”

•Worked with Sen. Walter Stosch on the Public Private Education Infrastructure Act & Public Private Transportation Act Saved Tens of Millions

•Created accounting software called COMPETEcould determine full cost of government services

•Analysis of State Commercial Activities 37,555 FTE positions that could be competitively

bid

Wilder Commission --Wilder Commission --Governor Warner Governor Warner

62 Recommendations Suggested

62% Fully or partially implemented

39% Not implemented

9% No longer valid

Wilder CommissionWilder CommissionFour Recommendations Not

Implemented• Consolidate/eliminate Exec agencies• Unify payroll systems for higher ed• Reduce state funding of Constitutional offices• Study privatizing ABC stores

Ideas Con’tIdeas Con’tElectronic meetings

VA is an “at will” state in private sector employment. State system is more difficult to get rid of “bad” employees

Create “Citizens Friendly Budget Document” –General Assembly document not adequate to any normal person

Construction on campus as much as 50% higher than similar construction off campus.

Ideas Con’tIdeas Con’tCourt locations

◦ Several courts are within walking distance of each other

Re-establish /Rename the Commonwealth Competition Council as a major part of this reform effort and/or …..

Establish an Inspector General position

Privatize and Consolidate Health & Human Services “Help Lines” into One Call Center

Ideas Con’tIdeas Con’tOrganization charts

◦ State Government as a whole◦ Every Secretariat and Agency

Public Private Partnerships◦Lease/lease backs – billions potentially◦Toll Roads, HOT lanes, even airports◦Missouri Bridge Idea

Centralize/Privatize Eligibility/Enrollment functions for Medicaid and other health programs.

Ideas Con’tIdeas Con’tAll state agencies contract for

electricity under the state negotiated price

43 agencies analyzed had 200+ financial software packages

State fleet maintenance competitively bid and local gov’ts could learn from this

Reward costs savings ideas from state employees with percentage of savings

Allen Louderback IdeasAllen Louderback IdeasCar Pooling to state meetings

requiredVDOT fencing at $32,000/mile

reviewedOne license plate, not twoCounty Commissioners/Treasurers

◦Track down state debtorsSales tax collections at local level

◦Cut state admin costs

ConclusionConclusion“ The only way we will make a better

future is by making wise choices about what government does and then executing those undertakings effectively.”

Bill Eggers, in his recent book,If We Can Put a Man on the Moon