Iowa panel rolls out cost-saving reorganization plan

A bipartisan legislative panel today approved recommendations to streamline purchasing, consolidate information systems and eliminate some minor state advisory panels to cut government costs.

The proposals by the State Government Reorganization Commission represent the first review of operations in nearly 25 years and come on the heals of similar cost-cutting measures offered by Gov. Chet Culver.

“I think it's a huge first step,” said Sen. Staci Appel, D-Ackworth, a panel co-chairwoman. The proposals were approved by a 10-0 vote and will be forwarded to legislative committees for drafting into bills to be considered by lawmakers next session.

Rep. Mary Mascher, D-Iowa City, said there currently isn't an overall cost savings associated with the proposals, but an estimate should be available once the bills are in draft form.

Earlier this week, Culver unveiled 90 proposals submitted to him by a paid consulting firm that he projected could save $341 million in the first year of implementation and up to $1.7 billion over five years.

Among the ideas in today's legislative plan would be to place a three- to five-year sunset on all state tax credit programs to assure they are periodically assessed for costs and benefits to taxpayers. Lawmakers also want all executive branch agencies to consolidate e-government operations and joint purchasing, although exceptions would be made for special cases such as the Iowa Lottery or University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.

Other ideas call for streamlining the state's hiring procedures, reducing and downsizing the state vehicle fleet, eliminating all vacant state positions that have been open for six months, reducing the span of control to 15 employees per supervisor and allowing for some new fees for state services.

The reorganization proposals also call for merging, revamping or eliminating nearly 30 state advisory panels or functions that currently are required by state law.

A complete list of the proposed recommendations is available at the state's Web site at

http://www.legis.state.ia.us/Isadocs/IntComHand/2010/IHTCM017.PDF