Fifth annual report highlights State’s continuous improvement accomplishments

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney released the fifth annual report of the Government Efficiency and Accountability Review (GEAR) Board. Governor Carney established GEAR by Executive Order in February 2017 in order to identify ways for state government to operate more efficiently, improve the delivery of state services, and provide cost savings over the long term.

The report highlights key accomplishments across State government in 2021, including:

• Saving millions of dollars for taxpayers through lease restructurings, long-term care delivery optimization, employee health care benefit initiatives, energy efficiency projects, and streamlining the State’s financial, human resource and information technology systems and procedures.
• Adopting COVID-safe practices saving millions in travel costs and thousands of person-hours by leveraging video conferencing, virtual hearings and public meetings, and virtual employee training and on-boarding. 
• Continuing the GEAR P3 Innovation and Efficiency Award program that rewards state employees who demonstrate successful implementation of innovative, cost saving, continuous improvement projects.
• Expanding high-speed, broadband Internet service in Delaware’s underserved areas through public-private partnerships.

“Even while facing the challenges of a global pandemic, under the umbrella of GEAR, agencies throughout State government have worked to improve quality and efficiency in the delivery of state services,” said Governor Carney. “These continuous improvement efforts have yielded cost savings and service enhancements that are enabling the State to emerge from the pandemic stronger than ever.”  

The Board report, released each December, also provides policy and budgetary recommendations for possible inclusion in the Governor’s agenda and budget for Fiscal Year 2023. Governor Carney’s budget proposal will be released in January virtually and at the Delaware Public Archives in Dover.  

Recommendations in the 2021 Report include:

• Support the “Ready in Six Initiative” to streamline and reduce permit approval process timelines and improve the State’s competitive position when businesses consider relocating to Delaware.
• Continue to expand participation in the Continuous Improvement Practitioner (CIP) Training Program focused on developing project management, program management and leadership skills of the State government’s workforce. To date, 21 employees have graduated and 15 are in training.
• Ensure transparency in the use of the more than $2 billion of federal COVID funds allocated to Delaware by broadly soliciting proposals to address the health, safety and economic impacts of the pandemic and providing access for the public to search payments to grant recipients.
• Drive improvements to digital government services enabling citizens to access state services anytime, from anywhere and on any device.
• Support projects led by members of the GEAR Field Team and CIP training program graduates that including boosting literacy, improving utilization of funds for youth and family needs, optimizing use of fleet vehicles, creating dashboards to facilitate data driven decision making, and implementing person-centered care models in the delivery of long-term care.  

“GEAR continues to drive efforts in as many agencies as possible to deliver efficiencies and cost savings statewide,” said James Myran and Charles Clark, Executive Director and Deputy Director of GEAR, and Bryan Sullivan, Director of Management Efficiency at the Delaware Office of Management and Budget. “The GEAR Field Team of continuous improvement practitioners now includes 40 members representing 9 state agencies and the judicial branch, delivering value through the execution of more than 55 agency projects to make state operations more efficient and cost-effective and position the State to deliver higher quality services to citizens and businesses.”

Read the 2021 annual report  for full details.

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