Alaska State Legislature
News from the Senate and House Majorities

Jerry Ritter, House Majority Press Secretary, (907) 258-8164
Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary, (907) 258-8187
Anchorage Legislative Information Office
Anchorage, AK 99501
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540
web site: www.akrepublicans.org

Legislators Focus on Efficiency and Effectiveness

For Immediate Release: November 17, 1997 Contact: Jerry Ritter (907) 258-8164

ANCHORAGE -- Alaska legislators heard Monday from nationally noted governmental affairs expert Craig L. Holt, who suggested legislators' sole measure of performance ought to be how efficiently and effectively government delivers services.

"All too often, budget writers get wrapped-up in funding government activities and lose sight of what those activities are meant to accomplish," said House Speaker Gail Phillips. "Mr. Holt's message will, hopefully, help us implement a system in which performance and effectiveness are the critical factors in evaluating a program's budget."

Among the tools Holt outlined for legislators were outsourcing and contracting, benchmarking, activity-based costing, and asset sales. But Holt stressed that not every tool is right for every job.

"Our focus ought to be on improving the delivery of state government services," said Senate Finance Committee Co-Chair Drue Pearce. "If that means outsourcing in one area, privatizing another, and managed competition in a third, then those are the directions in which we ought to be heading. Most importantly, no matter who provides a service they must be held accountable for their success or failure"

Holt, who is president of his own consulting firm, Managing Total Performance, Inc., has consulted with several state, county, and municipal government entities across the country. He is currently involved in the ongoing reorganization of government services in the District of Columbia. Holt is in Alaska for two days of meetings with legislators. His trip is sponsored by the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce.

Holt also told legislators that it takes everyone: legislators; the executive branch; state agencies; and state employees, pulling in the same direction to get the job done.

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