Governor Convenes Budget Cutting Commission

09.03.2009 by Elizabeth Ziegler

Governor Gary Herbert appointed former Governor Normal Bangerter to head the new Utah Advisory Commission to Optimize State Government. Photo by Elizabeth Ziegler.

(KCPW News) Governor Gary Herbert has organized a commission to take a fresh look at state budget cuts to bridge what could be an $800 million shortfall next year. And unlike his predecessor, Governor Jon Huntsman, he’s not promising to avoid cuts to public education and critical human services.

“Nothing should be off the table, we ought to look for ways to be efficient as we possibly can with the taxpayers’ dollar,” Herbert says. “That’s why it’s called optimization here of government services.”

Herbert says the commission will not “slash and burn” through the budget, but give taxpayers more bang for their buck.

Members of the new Utah Advisory Commission to Optimize State Government were plucked from the corporate world and state government, with former Governor Norm Bangerter serving as its chairman. Bangerter says even though the state has had a strong record of fiscal responsibility, it’s time to take another look at how it’s run.

“And now is the time for us to look at everything in absolute detail, as best we can to kind of check the oil — cars are much on the topic these days — open the hood, kick the tires, and see if there are things that we can do that will help us do an even better job than we have in the past,” Bangerter says.

The 11-member commission will help Herbert draft his budget proposal over the next 10 to 12 weeks. And a more in-depth report on long-term cost savings will be submitted to the governor next fall.