Funds provide training on streamlining principles

• By SARAH CHACKO
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Nov 10, 2009 - Page: 8A

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State officials are receiving private support as they prepare for budget cuts and program reductions, the governor’s chief budget officer said Monday.

Private funds collected through the Baton Rouge Area Foundation have helped train more than 500 budget managers and staff throughout state government on streamlining principles, Commissioner of Administration Angèle Davis told the Press Club of Baton Rouge.

Foundation Executive Vice President John Spain said later that his organization collected about $50,000 specifically to assist the state’s streamlining efforts.

The foundation collected the donations in a fund restricted for streamlining government activities, Spain said. Then BRAF used the money to contract with private businesses to assist the state with its project, he said.

The state, through its Division of Administration, also has a $49,000 contract with The Public Strategies Group, a Massachusetts consultant, to bring a more private sector approach to the changes needed in state government, Davis said.

“I don’t know of one private business who has not availed themselves to private sector assistance or private sector consulting services or someone to bring a different expertise to their organization,” she said.

The Louisiana Commission on Streamlining Government started looking at ways to reduce government spending earlier this year.

Louisiana government is projecting a $1 billion shortfall in the fiscal year that begins July 1, and projecting a greater one in the following budget year.

Spain said the foundation is just the facilitator through which various private donors can contribute to the state.

“Because of the anticipated budget shortfalls, I think there are people who understand now that if there weren’t private dollars, this wouldn’t get done,” he said.

Davis, who sits on the Streamlining Commission, said that while the fiscal challenges facing Louisiana are sobering, the state’s economy is still showing upward momentum.

The Index of State Economic Momentum ranked Louisiana as the No. 1 state in the nation for economic momentum for the second quarter of 2009, she said.

The index ranks states on their most recent performance in personal income growth, employment growth and population growth, Davis said.