Governor: Put State Government’s Structure in a Museum

GOVERNOR CALLS ON SENATE TO MOVE FORWARD ON RESTRUCTURING
LEGISLATION, ASKS CITIZENS TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD

Columbia, S.C. - May 19, 2008 - Governor Mark Sanford today called on the state Senate to take a step toward putting South Carolina’s antiquated government structure in a museum where it belongs by passing the Department of Administration bill.

The bill, H.3590 - which last month unanimously passed the House - would for the first time create a Department of Administration that would house key administrative support functions currently under the Budget and Control Board. South Carolina is the only state in the nation with a Budget and Control Board.

One recent study suggested $500 million in savings that could be achieved at the Board through increased efficiency and transparency. For example, the Budget and Control Board only recently ended a 20-year no-bid contract with a politically connected insurance firm, saving taxpayers almost $4 million per year going forward.

"When we're the only state in the nation with a Budget and Control Board, it should tell you that we're either doing something incredibly right, or incredible wrong - and based on the numerous restructuring studies over the years or more recently with the GEAR report, it's clear the Board's structure is chronically unaccountable," Gov. Sanford said. "What needs to be remembered in this debate is that this bill is not about me or this administration, as it won't even take effect until after I've left office - it's about making government more accountable to the people of this state, and about moving South Carolina one step closer to how government is run in 49 other states."

Functions moved under the proposal include the General Services Division, the state's Chief Information Officer, Human Resources, Procurement, and the state Energy Office. Some members of the Judiciary Committee last week indicated support for leaving some of those functions at the state Budget and Control Board.

"What we can't have is for this bill to be watered down to the point where instead of a Department of Administration, it becomes a Department of Building Maintenance. To that end, I'd ask everyone in South Carolina who cares about the idea of making government more efficient and more accountable to call their Senator and ask them to support this bill in its current form."