Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell on Wednesday announced that she has directed all state agencies to implement certain cost-saving measures following an audit report on the operations of the Department of Children and Families (DCF). The report by the Auditors of Public Accounts identified a number of areas where significant cost savings could be achieved, including cell phone use and motor vehicle fuel for state vehicles.
"Any wasteful expenditure of taxpayers' dollars is unacceptable," said Rell. "I have directed all state agencies to make the necessary changes to their cell phone and motor vehicle fuel usage procedures. These are simple, common-sense measures that will save real money and promote proper spending."
The audit specifically found that DCF was paying for 258 cell phones that were never used over the time period covered by the audit. It also found that 50 percent of cell phone use occurred on days when employees were not at work.
Rell directed all state agencies to cancel any cell phones not currently being used and to institute better monitoring of cell phone use.
The auditors estimated that more than $111,000 could be saved on an annual basis by DCF by canceling unused cell phones and by implementing better monitoring of employees' cell phone use.
