CCG looking for less expensive, creative ways to stretch tax dollars

Until recently, the CCG was part of the Texas Building and Procurement Commission (TBPC), now the Texas Facilities Commission. However, legislation that passed during the recent 80th Legislature moved most procurement functions to the State Comptroller's Office, including the CCG, with the Comptroller's Office providing administrative support.

The CCG is governed by a six-member board of mostly statewide elected officials who approve projects to be reviewed. This board also has to sign off on the terms of any contracts before they are executed.

A CCG review may result in revamping or reorganizing services within an agency, moving services to another agency, contracting for services with the private sector or creating a public-private partnership to provide services. In all of these instances, the CCG uses a number of processes to determine how the state's provision of services compares to other service providers' quality and costs.

Reviews are currently pending for the possible consolidation of human resources functions for state agencies with fewer than 500 FTEs and development of possible partnerships for a "transportation-sharing" program between the public sector and private transportation companies to cut transportation costs for state agencies.

There are many success stories that represent the $140 million in savings that have been accomplished. The state consolidated 32 state agency print shops into nine state-operated shops in Travis County, with five state agencies now operating print shops. Savings to the state also came from CCG reviews that resulted in contracts for document destruction services, digital imaging services and administration and operation of the state's vehicle fleet.

Energy management service that is applied at all levels of state government is another big money-saver. The CCG determined that the state could realize a significant savings through conservation projects and combined energy procurement and awarded an energy management services contract to an energy consulting firm.

The state's retail fuel card program that resulted from a CCG review has been both a boon to the state and to school districts, counties and small cities in Texas. The card is good at gas stations throughout the state and no matter what the listed pump price is, cardholders pay the state's contracted price, which can sometimes be up to 60 cents below the pump price. All local governments can voluntarily participate in the state's contract. The savings are twofold as a 1 percent rebate on all fuel-related expenditures also includes such items as oil purchases or car washes.

In the end, it's all about competition. It not only guarantees competitive pricing, but also results in improved quality in products and services offered. That's a good thing - for the state, for vendors and for taxpayers.