While we are pleased that Gov. Donald Carcieri’s efficiency initiative, “Fiscal Fitness,” has helped to uncover ways to save taxpayer dollars, we cannot help but wonder why certain spending practices weren’t reined in long ago – either by this administration or previous ones.
The “Fiscal Fitness” progress report, which included results of the long-promised “Big Audit” of state government, suggests that taxpayers are in line to save more than $55 million, as a result of increased efficiencies. It should be noted that the $55 million figure includes an anticipated savings of $25 million over the next three years because the state is switching its employee health benefit package from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island to UnitedHealthcare. Blue Cross officials are disputing the details of that contract.
Rhode Island's Market Has Changed. Developers, Builders, Investors and Sellers Must Change With It.
By Emilio DiSpirito IV License Partner | Engel & Völkers Oceanside Leader | The DiSpirito…
Learn More
But we’re scratching our heads at some other projected avenues of savings – wondering, frankly, why any of this wasn’t done sooner.
For example:
• The state expects to save $8 million due to better deals for office supplies, computer hardware copiers and much more. It begs the question: Just what kinds of copiers has the state been buying up until now?
• The state is expected to save $28,000 by having disconnected unused telephone and data lines. No one noticed these bills piling up each month on phones that were apparently out of service? Another $8,000 is to be saved after blocking access to directory assistance. Yes, state employees, it’s about time to dust off those telephone books.
• Officials see the potential for another $6.5 million in savings by simply stepping up efforts to collect past due tax payments. A new law that takes effect in January should help. It stipulates that an individual’s taxes must be paid in order to receive any kind of state license. It’s a law that makes a lot of sense and we wonder why it took until 2005 to get it on the books in Rhode Island.
We hope that taxpayers do realize the savings that are projected to come out of the “Fiscal Fitness” initiative. We do commend the governor for embarking on the program.
But we hope that when it is over, the “Fiscal Fitness” initiative is remembered also for the long-term solutions that were put in place as a result. Any approaches that lead to significant savings should become part of the state’s permanent policies so that these kinds of efficiencies aren’t part of some special program, but rather the way the state does business.
