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The first set of recommendations from the Nevada
Spending and Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission
was delivered to Governor Jim Gibbons at the State
Capitol today. The recommendations represent as much
as $500 million in potential savings or enhanced
revenue opportunities over a five-year period if all
recommendations are acted upon. First year of
implementation savings or enhanced revenue potential
after implementation costs is an estimated $81
million.
SAGE Commission Chairman Bruce James met with
Governor Gibbons this morning to present and review
the 11 separate SAGE recommendations on actions that
can be taken immediately by the Governor or that can
be put before the Legislature during its 2009
session. SAGE recommendations, approved unanimously
by the Commission at its September 25, 2008 meeting
in Las Vegas, include proposals relating to the
Department of Health & Human Services, Department of
Corrections, Department of Motor Vehicles, state
printing contracts and a revised workweek schedule
for all non-essential state offices.
“The Nevada SAGE Commission has done a tremendous
job in their first 90 days. They have given me
recommendations that can be implemented which will
not only save the state of Nevada money immediately,
but will continue to save money for years to come.
Many of these recommendations have already been
incorporated into the budget planning process,” the
Governor said. “I thank the Commission for its hard
work on these first recommendations and I look
forward to seeing what they will propose in the
coming months.”
“This first set of recommendations is the result of
our staff and commissioners working closely with the
appointed heads of several agencies as well as
reviewing reports to previous governors and issues
previously addressed by the Legislature on which no
action or incomplete action was taken,” SAGE
Commission Chairman Bruce James noted.
“One of our first actions was to contact all members
of the Governor’s cabinet to solicit their ideas for
ways their departments or agencies could operate
more efficiently. Our request did not seek
identification of specific budget cuts. Instead, we
asked for suggestions of how their respective
Departments could perform essential services for
Nevada's citizens for less money by making changes
in procedures or processes.
"The Commission has carefully considered each of
these 11 recommendations and we believe each one is
worthy of immediate consideration. Our conservative
estimate, if all recommendations were acted on, is
potential first year savings of approximately $81
million after start-up costs and five-year savings
of close to $500 million.” James concluded.
Included in this first 90-day report to the Governor
are the following recommendations:
·
Centralizing the billing for third party pay
services in Mental Health and Developmental
Services.
·
Evaluating staffing ratios in state operated
psychiatric facilities.
·
Implementing Managed Care for the Aged, Blind and
Disabled (ABD) groups in the Medicaid program in
Clark and Washoe Counties, and expanding Managed
Care to women and children in four rural counties
(Carson, Douglas, Lyon and Storey).
·
Acquiring Distributive School Funding (DSA) for the
Nevada Youth Training Facility in Elko, in keeping
with the approach at other facilities in this
category.
·
Completing the downsizing of the DMV night shift
while maintaining the goal of a five-day turnaround
on automobile titles.
·
Identifying and coordinating the activities of all
departments, agencies and institutions of the
Executive Department that administer or provide
funding to local governments for drug and alcohol
abuse programs.
·
Establishing a program for discounted local digital
printing, copying, finishing and delivery services
for taxpayer supported government agencies
throughout the State.
·
Examining ways to use the Indigent Accident Fund and
Supplemental Relief Fund to obtain matching federal
funds for the Medicaid and Nevada Check Up programs.
·
Identifying the most cost-effective solution to
updating the DMV auto insurance verification program
with the goal of reducing the number of uninsured
motorists in Nevada to 10% or less from the current
level of 17-19%.
·
Closing the Nevada State Prison in Carson City
immediately and reassigning inmates and staff to
other facilities.
·
Evaluating a four-day, 10-hour workweek for all
non-critical Nevada State employees.
The full September 30, 2008 SAGE Commission Report
to the Governor, including explanations and
potential savings/enhanced revenue estimates is
available on the SAGE Commission website (www.sagenevada.org).
Charged by Governor Gibbons to objectively assess
the structure of Nevada’s government operations and
make recommendations formulated to improve citizen
services and reduce costs, the Spending and
Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission is studying
the structure and functions of most state
departments. The SAGE Commission expects to make
recommendations to the Governor every 90 days during
its two-year lifespan.
The Commission has already created several task
forces and identified others to conduct in-depth
studies on specific areas of interest ranging from
personnel and human services to earmarked taxes and
fees. SAGE Commission task forces are composed of
individual commissioners, industry experts and state
employees for each area of consideration. Task
forces work in cooperation with the SAGE Commission
executive staff. The SAGE Commission meets monthly,
alternating meeting locations between Reno and Las
Vegas.
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