State efficiency panel workers to be diverse

CARSON CITY -- The chairman of the governor's new commission to improve efficiency and save money said Thursday that he intends to involve state agency heads and business leaders of contrasting political views in the decision making.

"This is not going to be a biased commission," said Bruce James, a multimillionaire Lake Tahoe resident who spent more than four years as the U.S. public printer. "There are going to be Democrats and Republicans, and I hope as many women as men. There are a lot of fine Democratic business people who have experience in finding efficiency."

A former Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, James said he realizes that many in the state government bureaucracy are nearing retirement age and might privately question whether another government efficiency study will accomplish anything more than sit on a shelf.

But he said the 12-member Nevada Saving and Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission will hire staff members to go into state agencies, see how they operate, gather the views of agency directors and employees, and determine if savings or greater efficiencies can be found.

"They will be doing most of the work," James said, adding that private funds will be raised to cover these costs.

He said effort must be made by the commission to restore the pride that many longtime state employees once had for their jobs.

As the head of the U.S. Government Printing Office, James said he worked to restore employee morale and pride and has a track record of working well with unions.

During a long career heading private printing companies in the San Francisco area, James said he worked through two recessionary periods in which he was forced to make changes.

James was appointed to head the SAGE Commission at a time when Gibbbons and legislators have been forced to cut state spending by $914 million. Additional cuts are likely when the Legislature goes into session next year unless the economy quickly recovers.

He envisions the commission holding periodic meetings over two years before issuing a final report to the governor.

But those meetings will be conducted in public and any proposals that would bring savings or greater efficiencies quickly would become known and available to the governor and Legislature, James said.

He expects to conduct the first commission meeting before July 1.

Gibbons will name five more members to the commission and ask legislative leaders to recommend names of people to fill the other six seats.

James said there are about 3 million Nevada residents today, compared with 1 million in 1988. In another 20 years, 5 million people will live in the state, he said.

Consequently, he said one cannot expect to have the same work force in a state with a constantly growing population.

But changes can be made in energy consumption and insurance programs to secure greater efficiencies and savings, he said.

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.