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PRESS RELEASE
March 24, 2011
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For Immediate Release
Contact: James Franko
316.634.0218
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K-State #1 in Cell Phone Spending
Cutting unnecessary spending can avoid service cuts
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| March 24, 2011 - Wichita - An examination of the state checkbook reveals that agencies spent $89 million last year on several categories that often contain large amounts of unnecessary expenditures. Kansas Policy Institute (KPI) conducted the examination and made the results available today on KansasOpenGov.org. Spending on overtime, advertising, cell phones, and dues, memberships and subscriptions totaled $50 million; $39 million in travel and entertainment spending was posted earlier this week.
KPI President Dave Trabert commented, "Hardly a day goes by that we don't see some group or state agency saying they will have to cut necessary services if their funding is reduced, but it's pretty clear that there are lots of other ways to reduce spending. Some degree of spending in these categories is understandable, but the data clearly show that large amounts of taxpayer money are being spent unnecessarily."
In 2010, the state spent over $4 million dollars on cellular phones, with Kansas State University spending the most at $587,437; the other entities rounding out the top five spenders were Department of Transportation ($342,934), Dept. of Social and Rehabilitative Services ($307,857), Wichita State University ($293,691) and the University of Kansas Medical Center ($257,288).
"All told, state agencies and universities spent $11.9 million on advertising last year. Some of it was even listed as confidential, which kind of defeats the purpose," offered Trabert. "It's understandable that the Kansas Lottery needs to advertise, but how much of the remaining $9 million was really necessary? These are the kind of questions that independent efficiency panels would ask, but special interests and government employee unions are strongly opposed to their creation."
Total spending on Dues, Subscriptions and Memberships was $23.6 million and includes access fees to electronic data systems as well as organization dues and publication subscriptions. There are many examples of agencies joining multiple organizations that at least appear to be similar. The Legislature spent $144,408 to join the National Council of State Legislators and also spent $107,022 to join the Council of State Governments. The Governor's office bought memberships in three governors' associations: the National Governor's Association ($83,800), the Western Governors' Association $36,000) and the Midwestern Governors' Association ($10,000).
"Again, some things like database access are understandable, but how do we justify tax increases and still pay some of these membership dues and buy subscriptions to magazines or news publications that are available for free on the Internet?" commented Trabert.
Overtime spending for calendar 2010 was $10.2 million and increased by 10.4%. Amounts paid to individual employees are listed, as well as their employer and job title.
The state checkbook was placed on KansasOpenGov last fall and made available to the general public. Since then, KPI and other concerned Kansans have dug into state spending and gained fresh insights into where their tax dollars are going. All of the information on KansasOpenGov is obtained directly from governmental agencies, in many cases through Kansas Open Records requests (KORA).
Trabert concluded, "Eliminating some of these costs may not be popular within government, but it's not right to expect struggling taxpayers to foot the bill for unnecessary spending and have to deal with service cuts." |
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Kansas Policy Institute is an independent think-tank that advocates for free market solutions and the protection of personal freedom for all Kansans. Our work centers on state and local economic policy with primary emphasis on education, fiscal policy and health care. We empower citizens, legislators and other government officials with objective research and creative ideas to promote a low-tax, pro-growth environment that preserves the ability of governments to provide high quality services. To speak with Kansas Policy Institute, please contact James Franko (316) 634-0218.
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