State SealMedia Release

Rep. Nancy Nathanson

State  Representative, District 13


For Immediate Release                                                     For More Information, Contact:
October 4, 2010                                                                Dorothy Waller 503-986-1413

Representative Nancy Nathanson
leads government efficieny effort

Government Efficiency Task Force releases twenty-three recommendations to
save money and improve efficiency

Salem – Friday, the Government Efficiency Task Force delivered its final report containing twenty-three recommendations that will improve the delivery of vital services to Oregonians and save mony for state, county and local governments.

“The Task Force has worked hard to come up with some practical, achievable ideas that will make sure taxpayer dollars go further and can be implemented in the coming months,” said Representative Nancy Nathanson (D-Eugene), chair of the Task Force.  “We have also established new working relationships between state agencies, the Legislature, counties, cities and special districts that will lead to ongoing improvements so that the efforts will continue beyond the lifetime of the Task Force.”

The Task Force on Effective and Cost-Efficient Service Provision was comprised of state legislators, state agency directors, representatives of the Governor’s office, Association of Oregon Counties, League of Oregon Cities and Special Districts Association. The Task Force was charged with reviewing four specific state and county shared services with the objective of considering opportunities to restructure government programs to be more effective and cost efficient. The four shared services areas reviewed were:

1.         Assessment and Taxation

2.         Criminal Justice

3.         Elections

4.         Human Services

In addition, the Task Force was charged with encouraging effective fiscal planning for counties facing the possibility of a phase-out of federal forest safety net payments and recommending appropriate levels of state funding.

“I believe the 23 recommendations coming from the Task Force are a great beginning to the work we need to accomplish,” said Nathanson. “This successful process shows that we can work together across jurisdictional lines to reduce red tape, save money, untangle bureaucracy and improve public services for Oregon residents. With more time, much more could be accomplished.”

In an effort to be cost-efficient, the report is being released electronically. It will be available on the task force website and Representative Nathanson’s legislative website.

# # #