Public employees in Oregon suggest ways to save state $1 billion - This is GREAT!

[1776Forever]

From Twitter:

Public employees in Oregon suggest ways to save state $1 billion http://is.gd/FqGJxA

http://media.oregonlive.com/politics_impact/other/MOF%20Final%203%2021%2011%20REPORT.pdf

To begin thinking about how Oregon can afford to continue providing essential services,SEIU Local 503 did something unusual. We asked our members, the people who work on the front lines every day, to identify efficiencies that could lead to savings in their agencies. About 1,600 workers — about one in ten of the state workers the union represents — responded. Ideas ran the gamut, but in one agency the feedback reflected an existing conversation. At the Department of Revenue, concerns over mismanagement and its impact on tax collections had been an open topic of conversation for months.

Through the member survey and follow-up research into some promising targets, SEIU has identified a potential $333.5 million2 in savings and efficiencies just for the General Fund. This is hardly the full extent of what a broader and deeper examination would find with focused leadership and management cooperation. Certainly the savings will not approach anything close to the current budget gap. We never imagined they would. But beyond the specific examples we cite, what we sought to show—and this report really demonstrates—is that once we are past the present crisis, there is potential for us to work cooperatively—as we already have in select agencies in recent years—to make our government more efficient and responsive. And in the interim, these five significant targets for efficiency can be part of a balanced response to the budget gap that affects everyone but is hardest on those who can least afford it:

• If the goal is really to re-shape government, Oregon needs to examine the structure of its agencies. A review of the manager-to-staff ratio agency by
agency—the most comprehensive of its kind so far as we know—found that Oregon’s ratio is very low—just 5.7 workers for every manager. Finding the optimal balance between workers and managers is one key to encouraging prompt and responsive decision-making, leading to productive and efficient operation. During this budget crisis it can also save significant resources. A full review is warranted, but for now in order to ensure that Oregon does not sacrifice essential services to protect a structure that remains largely unexamined, SEIU recommends that the Legislature direct agencies to increase their worker-to-manager ratios by one each year of the biennium. This would mean increasing the current 5.7-to-1 ratio of workers-to-managers to 6.7-to-1 by July 1, 2011, and 7.7-to-1 by July 1, 2012. While this is not a solution to the organizational issues facing agencies, it will result in significant cost savings of $71,004,424 in General Fund dollars and $253,587,228 in Total Funds—and quite likely actually increase service quality across state agencies with the removal of unnecessary and counter productive layers of excessive management.

(much more at link)

...........

Great job SEIU Oregon! Way to go!

[nykym]

1. This was my favorite part,

"quite likely actually increase service quality across state agencies with the removal of unnecessary and counter productive layers of excessive management".

[1776Forever]

2. There are other great ideas in the document! I am really hopeful someone will do some of these!

Would be good advise for all the State Governments as far as I can see!

[Scuba]

3. Workers have ideas? C'mon that's contrary to Biz Mgt 101. n/t

[shanti]

4. yes

and this was my experience when working for the state (i'm now retired). my department was very top-heavy with management. there had to be at least 3 staff per manager, which is ridiculous. oftentimes, management positions were created to reward people by shuffling staff in order to get the minimum, usually a couple years before they retired (i think that's called pension spiking). it's way out of control, but never addressed.

[KamaAina]

5. I sent this along to my contact at our SEIU local

don't know if you've heard, but CA could stand to save a billion or two, too. :-)

[TheeHazelnut]

6. when I went to the site to check out radiation levels in Oregon from Fukishima a week ago

Their website said they are out on Fridays for mandatory furloughs to save the state money. I also recently looked at state job listings and all the ones I looked at said they were appointments for jobs would soon be eliminated within a year. I feel for our state workers. Grim state of affairs.

[MissB]

7. Just that friday

Oregon state workers had to take up to 14 furlough days, depending on how much they earn. That was spread out over the two year contract period. Last Friday was one of those 14.

I work for the state. The budget is tight, but we've so far been able to replace retiring workers or those that have otherwise moved on.

Glad to hear that people are finding the radiation site :)

[truedelphi]

8. Could you offer up a link to the page you are discussing?

Thanks in advance.

[MissB]

9. Here

There is a banner at the top...that's the link you want

http://public.health.oregon.gov/Pages/Home.aspx

[truedelphi]

10. Thank you. That page was set up so beautifully even I

Could find the banner you mentioned!

[Orrex]

11. This is one of the coolest things I've read in a good long while. However...

I can't help thinking that, if they had the chance, Republicans would cite these savings as proof that big government is evil, and they'd shit away the saved money in the form of tax cuts for the uber-rich.


Great story, though! Bravo, Oregon!

[classof56]

12. Thanks very much for posting!

I have bookmarked this for future reference. I am an Oregon state retiree and one of my children works for Oregon Dept of Revenue. I join the kudos to SEIU Oregon. Way to go indeed! Also grateful we elected Governor Kitzhaber (D). Oh, and may I put in a plug for vote by mail? Works mighty fine, IMHO.