June 2006

From "Firm Outlines Plan to Save $318 Million," Charleston (W.V.) Gazette, June 23, 2006:

From properly calibrating road salt spreaders to eliminating top-heavy management in the Division of Motor Vehicles to cracking down on fraudulent Medicaid claims, West Virginia state government could save $318 million, a consulting firm hired last year to ferret out wasteful state spending said.

Gov. Joe Manchin released the findings of the study's first phase at a news conference Thursday. "The recommendations just make common sense," he said.

From "Study Finds Ways to Save Taxpayers A Few Dollars," The (Elkins, W.V.)
InterMountain, June 23, 2006:

Soon after he took office, Gov. Joe Manchin pledged to take an in-depth, detail-oriented look at every facet of state government operations. The idea was to find ways to save taxpayers' money.

Last week the governor revealed that the first phase of that study has been completed by Public Works, a consulting firm with offices in several cities. The company's suggestions, if implemented, should save state government big money.

Public Works concluded that if state Division of Highways workers had better training on how to use equipment for dispersing salt and other chemicals on ice-covered roads, less material would be used, saving about $3.5 million a year. That recommendation, incidentally, was one of many that originated with state employees who have good, money-saving ideas.

The company has many, many other suggestions - most of them common-sense ideas. For example, the state Medicaid program has just six fraud investigators. Hiring more could uncover more fraud, saving the state $20 million in the first year of their employment.

Public officials often make sweeping promises to "cut the fat" in government. Often, they rely on one or two dramatic programs, usually involving layoffs of public employees.

But Manchin has been realistic enough to understand that, yes, it's the little things that count - and add up. We commend him for commissioning the study and encourage him to implement its recommendations as soon as possible.

From "Government Cuts Are Long Overdue," The (Charleston, W.V.) State Journal, June 29, 2006:

A recent report -- by no means the first of its kind -- promises a savings of $318 million during the next five years. Gov. Joe Manchin is promoting the recently released Performance Review Report, and he says implementing its "common-sense" recommendations will result in major savings.

Authored by Public Works LLC, the report is long on details and good ideas. It offers specific ways to cut expenses in a number of state divisions, including Highways, Motor Vehicles, Purchasing and Health and Human Resources.

From "Manchin Project to Save $318 M," Huntington Herald-Dispatch, June 23, 2006:

"Unlike previous cost-savings reports, Manchin said all of his cabinet secretaries have signed agreements with him to implement the recommendations. He also said the state already has saved $25.8 million in the 2007 budget, which takes effect July 1, because of some of the report's findings.

"I've been in state government for a long time, and I've seen a lot of studies," Manchin said during a meeting with The Herald-Dispatch's editorial board. "This isn't going to be another study on the shelf collecting dust with a pretty title. We're actually implementing these findings as we speak."

From "Governor Announces Plan to Save State $318 Million," Beckley Register-Herald, June 23, 2006:

Schnurer's firm has worked in three other states on performance reviews, using a mix of his own staff and state employees.

"The review of the Manchin administration has a unique twist to it that I think is really innovative and could become one of the best practices that other states emulate," he said.

"It has a signed contract between the governor and agency heads requiring implementation of the plans that emerge from this. The implementation of those savings have been built into those budgets for the agencies, so the savings will, in fact, be built into them for the coming years."

From "Manchin Savings Plan Impressive," The Wheeling (W.V.) News-Register:

Soon after he took office, Gov. Joe Manchin pledged to take an in-depth, detail-oriented look at every facet of state government operations. The idea was to find ways to save taxpayers' money.

Last week the governor revealed that the first phase of that study has been completed by Public Works, a consulting firm with offices in several cities. The company's suggestions, if implemented, should save state government big money.

Public Works concluded that if state Division of Highways workers had better training on how to use equipment for dispersing salt and other chemicals on ice-covered roads, less material would be used, saving about $3.5 million a year. That recommendation, incidentally, was one of many that originated with state employees who have good, money-saving ideas.

The company has many, many other suggestions - most of them common-sense ideas.

From Hoppy Kercheval, "Hoppy's Commentary for Monday," (W.V.) Metro News, June 26, 2006:

"The DOH lacks an adequate plan to train employees on the proper calibration of salt and cinder spreaders under different weather conditions and after major component repairs."

That's one of the more peculiar findings in a 150-page performance review of West Virginia state government by the consultant Public Works, LLC.

Shoot, you're dumping salt on an ice- or snow-covered road. It's not an exact science. But the consultant's report says by keeping the salt spreaders properly calibrated the state can save $3.5 million a year on its salt bill.

The just-released performance audit is filled with findings and recommendations on the operations of state government ranging from the application of road salt to the number of DMV supervisors to Medicaid fraud and abuse. Governor Manchin called for the review - the first of two to be released this year -- and he's traveling the state, preaching the gospel of the report with the fervor of a preacher at a tent revival.

• To learn more about Public Works, click here.
  
  
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