Retired Iowa City teacher offers idea to reduce cost of government

A retired Iowa City teacher looking at how to reduce the cost of state government thinks state employees might be able operate with less supervision than school children.

Rep. Mary Mascher, D-Iowa City, said Tuesday that “span of control” – the number of employees reporting to one supervisor – is being looked at by a legislative committee seeking ideas on how to deal with a 10 percent across-the-board budget cut ordered by Gov. Chet Culver.

The goal has been one supervisor for 11 employees, she said.

“As a classroom teacher who was used to supervising 30 or more students, I think it could be higher,” Mascher said. “One-to-11 adults seems heavy on supervisors.”

Culver is expected to release budget-cutting plans from state agencies Tuesday as he looks for ways to find $600 million in savings. Depending on what steps are recommended, Culver said, hundreds of state employees might lose their jobs or take reductions in hours.

Mascher and Sen. Staci Appel, D-Ackworth, co-chairs of the Legislature's State Government Reorganization Commission, will begin consideration Monday of cost-saving ideas submitted by budget subcommittee chairs. Those ideas include reducing the number and size of boards and commissions called for in state code, consolidating maintenance on state vehicles and using a mobile medical clinic for non-emergency care at state prisons as well as centralized purchasing and informational technology services.

Mascher has been impressed with the suggestions from subcommittee chairs and state employees.

“I think people see that this isn't a choice,” she said. “They understand they resist at their own peril, so they want to be a part of the solution.”