Shorter Buggy Whips

Yesterday I receive an email hyping Steve Beshear’s efficiency initiative. The Press Release is below:

Governor Steve Beshear's Communications Office Governor Beshear Seeks Ideas & Input from State Employees: Initiative to make government more efficient and productive

Press Release Date:
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Contact Information:
Vicki Glass 502-564-2611

FRANKFORT, KY – On the morning following his first State of the Commonwealth address, Kentucky state government employees were greeted with a personal message from Governor Steve Beshear, asking for their help in addressing the Commonwealth’s looming budget crisis.

In an email, Gov. Beshear announced his efficiency initiative, requesting ideas from state employees on how to make Kentucky state government operations more cost-effective, productive and innovative.

“No idea is too big or too small,” Gov. Beshear said. “If it helps your department or agency become more economical, more innovative, more productive or more accountable, I want to hear about it.”

This government efficiency initiative will be administratively attached to the Finance and Administration Cabinet. State government employees may submit their ideas by clicking on the efficiency logo on the http://www.kentucky.gov homepage or by visiting the Finance Cabinet’s Web site at http://finance.ky.gov/ideas.htm. Ideas submitted via this electronic suggestion system will be collected and studied by the governor and his staff to determine merit, practicality, feasibility and legality.

“We are looking long and hard at every cost saving measure we can think of,” said Gov. Beshear. “But, I’m sure there are things we haven’t thought about and you just might do so….please, put your minds to work!”

The Governor’s video message can be viewed at: http://governor.ky.gov/ideas/.

Now, this sort of idea skimming from employees has been around Frankfort for a long time. As far as it being innovative, I’m sure there is a suggestion on file somewhere that buying shorter buggy whips will reduce state expenditures.

But I did notice two things about Beshear’s plan that seems different from Ernie Fletcher’s plan. First based on the websites it looks like Finance instead of Personnel is running the show and second Ernie was at least willing to share the wealth.

Employees who suggest implemented ideas receive awards ranging from a minimum of $100 to 10 percent of the first-year savings ($2,500 maximum award.)

A press release on Ernie’s Plan is below:

Click Here To Make State Government More Efficient

February 7, 2005

On January 28 Gov. Ernie Fletcher announced state government employees can now use a new Internet-based system to submit suggestions on making state government more efficient, thanks to the newly-launched Employee Suggestion System Web site.


The newly enhanced system puts Kentucky on top in recognizing and managing the ideas of employees. “My administration continues its commitment to eliminate waste, fraud, abuse, and inefficiencies in state government,” said Gov. Fletcher. “Through the Employee Suggestion Systems, employees are able to play a role in making this happen by suggesting ways to increase efficiencies and save money. I encourage each and every state employee to use this system — a system which empowers employees to make a difference in state government.”

The Kentucky Employee Suggestion System is an incentive program designed to encourage merit employees to participate in good management by submitting their suggestions for implementation. Employees who suggest implemented ideas receive awards ranging from a minimum of $100 to 10 percent of the first-year savings ($2,500 maximum award.)

The Personnel Cabinet has partnered with IDMS, a Kentucky-based solutions development firm, to deliver a system that takes advantage of the best practices in the area of idea management. Together they have revolutionized the concept of the traditional system to provide consistent submissions, approval and notification. Employees can now submit suggestions at the moment an idea occurs by utilizing a new online form, available 24-7. The form is simple, user-friendly and fast. Employees receive immediate confirmation and will be able to track their suggestion. “The Employee Suggestion System has successfully saved the commonwealth millions of dollars since its implementation,” said Personnel Cabinet Secretary Erwin Roberts. “With the enhanced system, we hope more state employees will participate in the program, resulting in more efficiency in state government, and in addition, more rewards for more employees whose ideas are selected.”

Last December 28 state employees were recognized for their implemented suggestions which saved more than $760,000. The five-year life savings from last year’s suggestions alone will amount to more than $3.8 million in savings. The Kentucky Employee Suggestion System was implemented in 1981. The first-year savings recognized since the system’s establishment is more than $26 million.

Employees can access the site at http://personnel.ky.gov.

Here’s my first suggestion, actually a question. Why do political appointees like Cabinet Secretaries need $25,000 Crown Vic’s to tool around Frankfort? Wouldn’t a $14,000 Focus work as well?

Certainly we could trim a few bucks from the multi-million dollar contract for Ford Crown Victorias.