According to news reports last week, the Washington state government was able to cut approximately $1.7 million from its budget, just by fixing its cellphone plans.
State auditors completed a two-year study that looked at cellphone contracts and the usage of phones from state offices. As a result, several phones were turned in due to lack of use, while others changed to a cheaper prepaid contract.
Auditors studied approximately 22,000 cellphones in the two-year period, which they believe amounts to 80 percent of the state's mobile phone force. Before their report came out, a review requested by Gov. Christine Gregoire ultimately asked for 1,887 cellphones to be dropped. Around 3,000 phones could be moved to cheaper plans.
According to an Associated Press report last month, Auditor Brian Sonntag gave up a phone he'd used only 10 minutes over 16 months. The auditors' office dropped 25 phones, saving over $25,000.
Although the savings, $850,000 per year, is a small portion of the state's annual budget, it's a symptom of a larger problem. In essence, the state trimmed some of the fat from a multibillion-dollar budget.
Our question, though, is how many other $850,000 yearly budget excesses are out there?
One area that could reap much savings, or is at least worth looking into, is mileage reimbursements. We all know how this works: employees keep track of mileage when driving on company time and in the end, they get some money back for gas and potential maintenance situations that could arise as a result of driving large amounts of miles.
But, are people really taking the most efficient route while driving?
In a private enterprise, reimbursing for mileage must be done as efficiently as possible. Corporate entities are on a budget and likely have limited resources to provide such reimbursements.
Keeping track of those miles requires oversight. In many cases for a business, it's based on the honor system and is self-policed. Most businesses, after all, can't afford to hire five or six people to keep track of those areas.
The state level, with thousands of employees logging reimbursements, is a good place for a system to ensure money is spent wisely.
The state, as with any business, has areas where it could be more efficient, and others where it performs very well. It's our hope that departments fall under the microscope of the auditors at regular intervals. This way, every department has a chance to review the auditors' findings to make itself more efficient.
One question to ask itself is how much the state reimburses for gas, which then turns the question into whether they're getting the best deal for fuel. When it comes to gasoline, is the state buying the higher-grade fuel, or regular?
We're not asking for departments to take a nickel-and-dime approach, but to at least consider how their money is spent. While private entities are stretching their dollars more and more, our state government can set the pace for responsible budget practices by continuing these sorts of efforts.
During an extended period of budget trouble like this, even overlooking items because they don't look like much can add up to an obscene amount in the long run. In the end, with a lower cellphone bill each year, the state is taking some good first steps in budget accountability. We're looking forward to seeing more like it in the future.
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