Many of the submissions came through the "Ask Why" campaign, announced by the governor at state employee meetings in Richmond and Norfolk last October. The campaign was sponsored by the Virginia Governmental Employee Association in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Human Resource Management. Other cost-saving proposals were submitted through the governor's Internet site, and state officials now are evaluating more than 750 ideas on ways to improve the delivery of state services at lower cost.
During a recognition ceremony the governor saluted nine state employees whose suggestions have helped curtail spending while improving the delivery of state services. Among the suggestions that used technology to solve a problem was simple vigilance about shutting computers off at night. Brian Newbern Sr., computer systems engineer with the Department of Corrections, calculated that his agency could save over $400,000 a year if computers were turned off at night and on weekends. The commonwealth has begun turning off computers at night and on weekends across state government.
Other honorees included:
- David Solomon of the Department of Corrections suggested eliminating free warden housing at department facilities and selling the surplus real estate. This idea will save $295,000 annually in lease payments, and will result in approximately $3.2 million in revenue when the state-owned houses are sold. This suggestion was incorporated in the governor's budget recommendations last fall, and the revenue the sales will generate will be used to help address the state budget shortfall.
- Bonnie K. Hutchison, assistant division manager for the Department of Motor Vehicles, determined that an automated system for ordering personalized license plates could increase sales and lower transaction costs to DMV. As a result of her suggestion, the agency will save more than $250,000 over a 10-year period.
- Paul Prissel of the Department of Employee Dispute Resolution led a cross-agency team to develop an online state employee grievance form, replacing a long-standing, paper-intensive process. The work he and his team did will save the commonwealth at least $100,000 annually, and make more efficient use of technology in the workplace.
"These employees are representatives of a state workforce dedicated to change," Gov. Warner said. "My commitment to reform state government and achieve greater efficiencies will continue, and it will, as [this] event demonstrates, continue to be a bottom-up process, in partnership with our state employees."
