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PRESS RELEASE
July 29, 2014
For Immediate Release
Contact: James Franko
316.634.0218
State Budget Guide Outlines Principles for Better Service at Lower Costs
"New Normal" Of Fiscal Environment Demands That Government Increase Efficiency and Effectiveness
Wichita - July 29 - Regardless of opinions on Kansas' recent tax cuts, Kansas is like every other state is that it must answer citizen demands to use tax money well and deliver better quality service. "A Legislator's Guide to Delivering Better Service at a Better Price," was released today by Kansas Policy Institute to highlight the principles by which a state government could achieve both ends at the same time. Lead author Steve Anderson, Kansas' former state budget director, uses Kansas-specific data to provide a road map to guide other states, or local governments, towards better government service at a better price to taxpayers; Patrick Parkes a fiscal policy analyst at Kansas Policy Institute is the co-author.

KPI President Dave Trabert offered this upon the release, "The data is very clear; states that spend less, tax less - and grow more. Keeping spending under control is the key to economic growth and job creation, but the bureaucracy has a vested interest in doing just the opposite. Kansas legislators intent upon providing the same or better service at a better price are making good use of our independent views and we hope our Legislator's Budget Guide is of use in other states."

Anderson, also an Adjunct Fiscal Policy Scholar at KPI, and Parkes use the most recent data available to highlight interim and long-term savings to state government that have no impact of the actual delivery of service. For instance;
  • Spending a portion of the $3.86 billion held in carryover cash by Kansas agencies;
  • Mandating that state expenditures go through the full appropriations process (i.e., Transportation funding being allocated via the State General Fund);
  • Implementing a priority-based budgeting system to determine state spending priorities;
  • Generate savings to KPERS by giving new hires a better retirement benefit via a 401(k)-style account (generating $75 million in first year savings and nearly $700 million through 2024);
  • Cease, or curtail, the $1 billion in annual subsidies given to selected businesses at the expense of their competitors and taxpayers.

Some of these principles are highlighted in the guide with the practical experience of experts from around the world. Maurice McTigue offers his time as a Member of Parliament in New Zealand for operating more efficiently. Oliver Porter explains the benefits of privatization and the "private" city of Sandy Springs, Georgia and Bob Williams expounds on priority-based budgeting as a former GAO auditor and Washington State representative.

 
Having helped construct the budget of two states (Kansas and Oklahoma), Steve Anderson had this to say on the project, "Having seen the extreme frustration of legislators' attempts to get information from government agencies, we hope that our Legislator's Budget Guide sparks questions across the country that will shed light on opportunities to reduce the cost of providing essential government services and eliminate unnecessary spending.


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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 at (316) 634-0218.