January 15, 2010

Governor's proposal would streamline government, make services more efficient and effective

Gov. Nixon announces plans to eliminate 31 boards and commissions, 473 appointed positions

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Gov. Jay Nixon today announced plans to eliminate 31 state government boards and commissions, which would eliminate 473 appointed positions. The Governor's announcement followed recommendations by Commissioner of Administration Kelvin Simmons, whose department reviewed boards and commissions across state government to root out waste, inefficiency and redundancy and save taxpayers money.

This morning, Gov. Nixon signed executive orders eliminating 13 boards and 227 positions. The Governor will ask the legislature to eliminate 18 additional boards and 246 positions that were created by statute. 

"Missouri government must continue to tighten its belt, just as families all across the Show-Me State are doing," Gov. Nixon said. "Eliminating ineffective or redundant state boards will give Missourians a government that's more efficient, accountable and responsive. Many state boards do excellent work and will continue to do so, but we must continue to root out waste, inefficiency and redundancy wherever they exist in government."

To eliminate redundancy and increase efficiency, some of the duties of these eliminated boards will be transferred to existing boards. For instance, under the Governor's plan, the Board of Private Investigator Examiners and the Board of Licensed Private Fire Investigator Examiners will be merged into a single board.

The legislation will be sponsored by Sen. Delbert Scott (R-Lowry City) in the Senate. The bill will be sponsored by Rep. Steve Hobbs (R-Mexico) and co-sponsored by Rep. J.C. Kuessner (D-Eminence) in the Missouri House.

"Streamlining state government and making it more efficient is always important, but especially during these challenging budget times," said Sen. Delbert Scott, who plans to sponsor the legislation in the Missouri Senate. "I look forward to working with Governor Nixon and my colleagues in the General Assembly on this important issue."

"Missouri taxpayers expect and deserve their state government to work effectively, but also efficiently," said Rep. Steve Hobbs. "Eliminating and consolidating state boards will help us do just that."

"When it comes to state boards and commissions, sometimes less is more," said Rep. J.C. Kuessner. "We should continually look for ways to focus on boards and commissions that are working well and get rid of those that are no longer effective." 

Some boards have been dormant for some time or have never met. For example, the Thomas Hart Benton Homestead Memorial Commission has not met since 1991.

The full list of boards and positions eliminated can be found at http://governor.mo.gov/pdf/eliminated_boards.pdf