Gov. Carney launches Delaware efficiency board

Delaware Gov. John Carney signed his fourth executive order to explore ways to save money in state government.

The Government Efficiency and Accountability Review (GEAR) Board will start its work next month. Carney signed Executive Order #4 Thursday afternoon, as part of an ongoing effort to improve the cost efficiency of state government as state lawmakers work to fill a $350 million budget hole in the next budget.

“We need a serious, permanent effort to identify cost savings and efficiencies in state government, and that’s what we’ll get with the GEAR Board,” Carney said. “We must do things differently than we’ve always done them.”

Every year, the board will make recommendations that could be included in the state budget. Those recommendations could include ways for state agencies to share services or new methods for improving development and retention of state employees.

“Delawareans expect us to responsibly manage their money, and we’re committed to doing just that,” Carney said.

This year, the Office of Management and Budget will produce a report with the Finance Department with recommendations to include in the budget that must be approved by state lawmakers by June 30. The GEAR board will be made up of cabinet secretaries, the state treasurer, the Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court as well as a representatives from the business community and the state employees union.

Carney is in the midst of a series of town hall-style budget meetings with residents as he prepares to present the first budget proposal of his administration. That budget plan is expected to be announced after the latest estimate of state revenue is released in late March.