Drive for agency consolidation slow going

Dec. 16, 2004

Chris Grenz

Harris News Service

TOPEKA - Over the past few years, driver's license bureaus and social service offices have dwindled in Kansas.

The closures have been part of consolidation efforts intended to make the state more efficient and to save money.

On the campaign trail in 2002, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius pledged to do more consolidating and streamlining as governor.

Now, two years into her term, there have been changes, but some question the results of those efforts. And others wonder whether more consolidation plans loom.

"We would look at this more as an ongoing process," said Nicole Corcoran, the governor's spokeswoman. "We'll never be done streamlining government and looking for efficiencies."

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, isn't entirely sold on the consolidation of Social and Rehabilitation Services offices.

SRS has closed 56 of its 105 county offices, replacing them with "service centers" that serve larger areas. The agency ultimately plans to have 44 service centers scattered around the state by July 1, 2005. The agency also has consolidated its 11 regional administrative offices into six.

The changes are projected to save the state up to $2 million annually in lower administrative costs.

 

Rural areas shortchanged?

In Morris' southwest Kansas Senate district, only one office remains in the eight counties he represents. County offices across Kansas have been replaced by hundreds of "access points," which are information kiosks located in public buildings, doctor's offices, nursing homes, and senior centers where Kansans can apply for services or pick up brochures.

Morris, elected Senate President earlier this month, hopes to ask legislative auditors to review the change to determine if Kansans continue to be served and if the state is saving money.

"I think the jury may still be out," Morris said.

It's just one example of how tough it can be to consolidate, even within a single agency of state government. Morris said such savings mean sacrificing services, often in rural areas. Toss in turf battles and power struggles within state government, and trimming the fat can be more difficult than it looks.

"If there's a way that we can improve services with consolidation of state functions, it's probably something we should look at," Morris said.

But he acknowledged he wasn't certain if additional consolidation would be possible.

Other recent changes that aim to streamline government include moving the duties to inspect restaurants, grocery stores, vending machines, conveniences stores, bakeries, food wholesalers and other food businesses from the Department of Health and Environment to the Department of Agriculture.

 

Other consolidation efforts

More recently, Sebelius has proposed consolidating the state's Medicaid program and the state workers' healthcare program in a single new health agency that could leverage purchasing power to buy cheaper prescription drugs.

Sebelius took office after empanelling what she called Budget Efficiency Savings Teams. The BEST groups studied government operations and outlined a host of ways potentially to consolidate services.

Several ideas remain under consideration. A report is due in February on whether consolidating state hospitals in Topeka and Parsons would make sense. And some lawmakers also favor consolidation of Rainbow Mental Health Facility in Kansas City, Kan., with Osawatomie State Hospital.

But other ideas, such as reducing the countless state boards and commissions, have gone nowhere.

"We explored all the ideas and saw some of them didn't pan out," Corcoran said. "In theory and on paper, things looked good when they're combined. But when you truly get in and look at the services, you need to make sure people are being served."

Still, Sebelius intends to continue pushing cabinet secretaries and government leaders to change the way they think about state government.

"The governor's pleased with what we've done so far, but we're always looking for more," Corcoran said. "If agencies can work together, you're darn right we encourage that."