Culver proposes $1.7 billion savings over 5 years

Chet Culver today unveiled 90 cost saving proposals that he said will save $341 million in the first year and nearly $1.7 billion over the next five years.

Proposals include consolidating state information technology systems, combining state vehicles fleets, promoting more electronic filing options, selling surplus state property and improving the state's ability to collect past due debts and unpaid taxes

Culver unveiled his proposal at the Iowa Taxpayers Association's annual meeting in West Des Moines. He appealed for their help in getting legislative approval of the proposed streamlining ideas.

His plan includes:

• Being smart purchasers: using state master contracts for commonly purchased goods, and negotiating Medicaid durable medical equipment prices.
• Managing state assets better: reducing the state's car fleet; consolidating property management; and selling surplus properties that are no longer critical to a department's mission.
• Taking full advantage of e-government solutions: consolidating the state's 223 data centers; increasing e-filings and payments; and expanding telemedicine opportunities.
• Delivering government services more efficiently: consolidating facilities and programs; and consolidating administrative functions.
• Leveraging funds and improving financial management: increasing efforts to collect debt and making it easier to collect unpaid taxes.
• Common sense changes: requiring employees to pay for driving safety courses when they are required to take the course because of driving violations.

The recommendations are divided into three components: recommendations for executive action, recommendations for legislative action and recommendations for further analysis and consideration. In the coming week, Culver is expected to sign an executive order enacting most of the recommendations for executive action, which is expected to save more than $128 million in the first year and nearly $714 million over the next five years.

The entire report is available at

www.governor.iowa.gov.