Wow! Unique and innovative ways government is cutting costs!
by Mary Scott Nabers
CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc.
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But the more creative entities are finding ways to stretch their dollars to eliminate or reduce taxpayer burdens while continuing adequate levels of service. Some are taking a more traditional path such as choosing building upgrades over new construction. Others are looking at public-private sector partnerships. And, some are using stimulus funds for energy efficiency projects that will result in lower utility bills for years to come. But consider the following innovative approaches to revenue generation and cost cutting.
The Humble ISD is selling advertising on school buses. The district contracts with a private sector firm that sells ads and retains 60 percent of the revenue. Officials say the initiative could possibly be a $1 million annual revenue source.
In Bee County, the district clerk's office has benefitted from more than 1,700 hours of donated community service. As unbelievable as it sounds…community college government students work free as part of their course work, high school students volunteer as a classroom assignment, job seekers volunteer in exchange for on-the-job training and local judges assign community service hours through the courts. Thousands of taxpayer and county dollars have been saved.
In the Lewisville ISD, the school board may add more bus routes and alter schedules. Altering the start time for students could result in savings of $500,000 to $720,000. The changes would allow most drivers three routes instead of one or two, reducing the number of buses and drivers needed.
Texas is not the only state, however, that is exploring every possible cost-cutting measure and every possible revenue stream. Here are a few examples of what is happening nationwide:
The California legislature may convert 700 freeway displays into electronic advertising billboards. Paid messages would be displayed where drivers now see Amber Alerts and traffic updates. Officials estimate that 500 message boards could raise $2 billion over 20 years.
Officials in Arizona may sell the House and Senate buildings where they have conducted state business for half a century. Other state buildings could be next. The intent would be to sell the properties and then lease them back over a period of years. The state would assume ownership again when the leases end. Officials say the property sales could bring up to $735 million in immediate revenue.
In Pickens County, South Carolina, the local school district may turn to teachers and the community as it faces a $6.6 million budget shortfall. The plan is to eliminate substitute teachers. Full time teachers would be asked to limit their requests for personal days off and to cover classes for co-workers when necessary. The district also recently began a volunteer program - including students from the education programs at Southern Wesleyan and Clemson University, central services employees and others - to substitute in the classroom for teachers who must be absent.
Signs have been erected in parks in Colorado Springs, Colorado, asking park visitors to remove their own litter. The city will no longer be responsible for trash pick up in parks. And, the city is encouraging citizens who use local green spaces to bring their lawn mowers and help the city because park workers are reducing mowing schedules.
The City of Sacramento, California, has taken vending machines to a new level. Instead of drinks and snacks, the city's machines now offer safety gloves, batteries, duct tape and other products city employees use in their work. These supplies previously were left in open boxes, unattended, with no tracking control. Now city officials can manage, track and control inventory - saving time and money.
A group of volunteers in Cape Coral, Florida, is saving the city an average of $3,000 per foreclosed property throughout the city. The volunteers have cleaned and cleared more than 100 properties, saving the city $324,000. A private sector garbage company picks up all bagged refuse - more than 28 tons so far - at no cost to the city.
Rather than laying off firefighters as a result of budget woes, the Volusia, Florida, County Council will move 18 of the county's firefighters to the county's jail system where there is a shortage of workers. County officials are also discussing regional consolidation and joint staffing efforts aimed at saving tax dollars.
The problems seem universal, but the solutions are unique and innovative. One of the biggest success stories comes out of Hawaii, where the state senate took a stab at going paperless. Millions of sheets of paper - copies of written testimony, proposed bills and other legislative documents - have all but been eliminated. Over a two-year period, officials estimate a savings of $1.2 million.
