FAYETTEVILLE -- Gov. Asa Hutchinson said he's looking at reorganizing state government.
Improving state government efficiency is a major goal of his, the governor told a meeting of the Northwest Arkansas Political Animals Club. Hutchinson is a former director of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and a former under-secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
More than 150 people came to hear the governor's remarks at a lunch meeting of the club at Mermaid's Seafood Restaurant in Fayetteville.
The governor mentioned the abolition of the state Lottery Commission. The state Department of Finance and Administration took over the commission's duties earlier this year. That move was approved by the Legislature. Hutchinson also cited his decision to move the state's Department of Rural Services into the headquarters of the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission. Both actions are examples of needed changes, he said.
Hutchinson was asked after his remarks if efficiency efforts might include a reorganization of state government. He replied: "Stay tuned. There was a bill passed that gave us some authority to do that and my staff is reviewing the law to see what we can do."
His first steps will be taking a good look at departments to see what improvements can be made in operations as they are now, he said. Technology and other changes can result in important savings, he said.
"Small things matter," Hutchinson said. "Sam Walton paid attention to the pennies." Walton was founder of Walmart Stores of Bentonville.
The governor's staff confirmed Friday afternoon Hutchinson referred to Act 1202 of 2015. The interim study legislation allows the governor to appoint provisional department secretaries for 10 or more principal departments. These are: agriculture; commerce; interior; health and human services; corrections; education; finance and administration; labor, employment and workforce; natural resources; homeland security; and additional departments as the governor deems necessary.
The provisional secretaries or the office of the governor may conduct an efficiency study designed to achieve the maximum possible financial savings, the act says. Those conducting the study must report their findings to the governor and to the House and Senate committees on state agencies.
State Sen. Uvalde Lindsey and Rep. Greg Leding, both D-Fayetteville, attended the lunch meeting. They said they would not be adverse to the Republican governor's ideas for a reorganization as long as it cuts costs and not needed services, nor made those services harder to get. Lindsey pointed out a 2005 merger of the state Department of Human Services and the state Health Department didn't go smoothly, creating an unwieldy agency with too many responsibilities. The agency was split in 2007.
Lawmakers have confidence in the governor so far, Lindsey said. Hutchinson began his first term in January.
"He's not timid," Lindsey said. "He's not shy. So far he's also been resourceful and intelligent. I'm impressed."
Hutchinson said in his lunch remarks he was very pleased at the support he has received from legislators and the public.
"They all wanted the governor to succeed," he said. "You don't find that in Washington, D.C." Hutchinson was a U.S. House member from 1997 to 2001.
NW News on 05/09/2015