|
Commonwealth
Currents
Volume
2, Number 2
June/July
1996
Competition:
Employee Views Welcomed
Finding
better and less costly ways to provide efficient government
services for Virginia's citizens is a principal goal
of Governor's Allen Administration. State government
reform efforts are focused on reducing the size and
scope of government activity, especially in areas where
the services or products of government can best be provided
by private sector organizations.
Coordinating
the task of identifying and recommending specific state
government operations which might be improved by "out-sourcing"
or privatizing is a primary mission of a new state organization:
the Commonwealth Competition Council.
As
Secretary of Administration Michael E. Thomas, a member
of the Council, said in the last issue of Commonwealth
Currents, "It is clear that the effective,
efficient functioning of state government is possible
only with the collective efforts of all state employees…We
all need to be informed and, more importantly, involved
in this important process."
While
recommending alternative ways of delivering traditional
government services, the Council will ensure that state
government's ability to protect the health, safety and
welfare of Virginia's citizens is not compromised by
any of its recommendations. Additionally, the Council
is extremely aware of the potential impact of privatization
decisions on state employees and will work to minimize
any negative effects on the state's work force. When
preparing your remarks for written submission or presentation
at a public hearing, the Coucil urges that the following
questions be considered:
(1)
What program, service, or initiative of state government
should be better handled by the private sector?
Why?
(2)
Is there a program, service or initiative state government
is doing that could be done by the private
sector: (a) in a more efficient manner (b) at less
cost to the taxpayer (c) that would improve the quality
of service (d) or all, or a combination, of the above?
(3)
If so, what is it? For those services that must be
provided by state government, what is your suggestion
on how to make state government more internally efficient
and effective?
|
