While governments are often accused of many different things, efficiency is rarely among the articles of indictment. If anything, We the People become enraged by corporate welfare and those (in)famously expensive toilet seats. Efficiency in government is an admirable goal, to be sure. But what happens when some government official or another actually proposes such?
Enter, stage right, Asa Hutchinson, governor of Arkansas.
He's proposed cutting the number of agency heads reporting to him from 42 to 15. If the president of the United States can get by with 16 Cabinet members, the governor of Arkansas can get by with 15.
Cutting the number of departments in the state executive branch has been done before, but the number of departments just keeps growing back for one reason or another. Maybe if Asa Hutchinson successfully cuts the number this time, he can add a little weed killer.
The governor also says he can reorganize the government without decreasing staff levels. He said the move would save about $15 million a year because of shared real estate among merged agencies and other cost-saving factors. On top of all that, the governor said his reorganization would make services more efficient.
No mass layoffs? Millions in savings? Increased efficiency? These all sound great to us, and if he can do all this, more power to him. Figuratively. We're always up for better use of our tax dollars.
The governor continues to seek public input on this process, so it seems a fairly transparent effort thus far. Of course, this isn't something the governor has the power to do himself. It would require legislative approval next year when our betters return to Little Rock for the legislative session.
A state chief executive by the name of Mike Huckabee tried this song and dance once, but his efforts died in the Arkansas House of Representatives, where the opposing party had more seats. Though Democrats in November might pick up a seat or two in the next Legislature, it seems unlikely they'll retake either chamber. So the people Hutchinson really has to convince this will work belong to his own party. And this assumes he wins re-election.
This proposal seems solid. If you're interested in seeing it, visit: https://bit.ly/2PbqbCf
And don't forget the weed killer, governor.
Editorial on 10/06/2018