GEAR Board Highlights Accomplishments, Recommendations to Improve Efficiency and Accountability in State Government

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

The 2019 report highlights key accomplishments across State government in the past year including:

Saving millions of dollars for taxpayers through lease restructurings, energy efficiency projects, debt refinancing, bank services consolidation, and employee health care benefit initiatives.
Launching the GEAR P3 Innovation and Efficiency Award to recognize and reward state employees who demonstrate successful implementations of innovative, cost saving, continuous improvement projects.
Implementing the Delaware One-Stop, an initial step in developing a Delaware digital government platform.
Setting health care spending and quality benchmarks for the State.
Improving financial transparency in public education.

“From the day I took office, I’ve committed my Administration to being fiscally responsible, and key to that is constantly working to deliver state services in the most efficient ways possible, so we can direct resources where they are most needed,” said Governor Carney. “This year’s report highlights areas where we’re working across all three branches of government to save taxpayers’ dollars. It’s what Delawareans expect. Thank you to everyone associated with our GEAR efforts and employees throughout state government who strive each day to provide services in the most efficient way possible.”

The GEAR report, released each December, also provides policy and budgetary recommendations for possible inclusion in the Governor’s agenda and budget for Fiscal Year 2021. Governor Carney’s budget proposal will be released on January 30, 2020 at the Delaware Public Archives in Dover.

Recommendations in the 2019 Report include:

Creating a GEAR field team to support continuous improvement projects in more state agencies.
Supporting Senate passage of amendments to the Delaware Governmental Accountability Act (HB 133) to drive better strategic planning and allocation of resources in the budgeting process.
Developing a criminal and civil justice e-filing system for the courts.
Driving efficiencies through HR and IT centralization efforts.
Supporting EdGEAR – a collaboration among DOE, K12 schools and GEAR to bring focus to realizing efficiencies across public education.

Read the 2019 annual report.

“GEAR efforts are underway in agencies throughout the State,” said James Myran, Executive Director of GEAR, and Bryan Sullivan, Director of Management Efficiency at the Delaware Office of Management and Budget. “Projects are returning value in dollars saved, improved quality of services for citizens, and employee time optimized through greater efficiency of business processes. Restoration of funding this year for project management and LEAN training along with support from the business community and the State to help recognize and reward state employee accomplishments, position GEAR for even more success in 2020.”

On Thursday, December 12, Governor Carney and Delaware Department of Finance Secretary Rick Geisenberger will join GEAR P3 Innovation and Efficiency Award winners and business community sponsors to recognize and highlight state employee team projects that demonstrated successful implementations of innovative, cost saving, continuous improvement in state government.

MEDIA ADVISORY: GEAR P3 Innovation and Efficiency Award Recipients

WHAT: Governor Carney will congratulate the GEAR-P3 Innovation and Efficiency Award Recipients

WHO: Governor John Carney

Secretary Rick Geisenberger, Delaware Department of Finance

Jim Myran, GEAR Executive Director

GEAR P3 Innovation and Efficiency Award Winners

Business Community Sponsors

WHEN: Thursday, December 12, 2019

10:00 a.m.

WHERE: Carvel State Office Building, 12^th Floor

820 N. French St.

Wilmington, DE 19801

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Governor Carney Releases Second Annual Report of Government Efficiency and Accountability Review (GEAR) Board

Board presents recommendations across focus areas to improve efficiency and accountability in state government

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

By December 1 of each year, the Board must submit a report to the Governor that provides recommendations for possible inclusion in the upcoming recommended state budget. Governor Carney will present his Fiscal Year 2020 budget proposal on January 24, 2019 at the Delaware Public Archives in Dover.

“Since taking office I have talked to Delawareans about our commitment to operating state government more efficiently, and identifying cost savings so we can direct resources where they are most needed,” said Governor Carney. “We remain committed to improving the way we deliver state services, and spending taxpayer dollars responsibly. That’s what Delawareans expect. Thank you to members of GEAR for their important work on this report.”

Members of the GEAR Board presented Governor Carney with a series of recommendations for efficiency initiatives to be implemented across a number of focus areas – including criminal justice, education, financial services, health and social services, human resources, information technology, and public private partnerships. Among these recommended efficiency initiatives are activities that state government agencies can undertake to improve the quality of services, lower the cost of agency operations, and create new methods for improving the recruitment, development, and retention of State employees.

Read the 2018 annual report for full details.

“GEAR seeks to make specific recommendations that will increase the efficiency of state government, improve the state’s strategic planning process, further institute the use of metrics in resource allocation decisions, and develop sustainable continuous improvement practices,” said James Myran, Executive Director of GEAR, and Bryan Sullivan, Director of Management Efficiency at the Delaware Office of Management and Budget. “We’re working to create the process effectiveness and transparency that Delaware citizens expect from their government.”

Visit GEAR’s website for more information, and to submit an idea for improving the way state government operates.

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Governor Carney Releases Annual Report of Government Efficiency and Accountability Review (GEAR) Board

Board presents recommendations across focus areas, including education, criminal justice, human resources, and health

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Wednesday released the first annual report of the Government Efficiency and Accountability Review (GEAR) Board. Governor Carney established GEAR by Executive Order in February to identify ways for state government to operate more efficiently, improve the delivery of state services, and save costs over the long term.

Members of the GEAR Board presented Governor Carney with a series of recommendations across a number of focus areas, including criminal justice, education, financial services, health and social services, human resources, information technology, and public private partnerships.

“Since taking office in January, I have talked to Delawareans about our commitment to operating state government more efficiently, and identifying cost savings so we can direct resources where they are most needed,” said Governor Carney. “We remain committed to improving the way we deliver state services, and spending taxpayer dollars responsibly. That’s what Delawareans expect. Thank you to members of GEAR for their important work on this report.”

By December 1 of each year, the board must submit a report to the Governor, including recommendations that may be included in the recommended state budget. Governor Carney will present his Fiscal Year 2019 budget proposal on January 25 in Dover.

GEAR recommendations are focused around ways that state-funded agencies can share services, and improve the recruitment, development, and retention of state employees. Visit GEAR’s website for more information, and to submit an idea for improving the way state government operates.

“GEAR seeks to provide the process effectiveness and transparency that Delaware citizens expect from their government,” said James Myran, Executive Director of GEAR, and Bryan Sullivan, OMB Director of Management Efficiency. “Input from the public and employees received through the GEAR website has been great. This input will help us identify and drive recommendations for continued improvements throughout the state.”

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Governor Carney Announces Launch of GEAR Website to Identify Cost Savings

State employees, members of the public can submit ideas for cost savings, improvements across state government

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor Carney on Thursday announced the launch of a website for the Government Efficiency and Accountability Review Board, gear.delaware.gov, to identify opportunities for cost savings and system improvements across state government.

In February, Governor Carney signed Executive Order #4 establishing the Government Efficiency and Accountability Review (GEAR) Board to help identify, on an ongoing basis and over the long-term, opportunities for cost savings and efficiencies that will improve the delivery of state services.

“We have an obligation to spend taxpayer dollars wisely, find ways to more efficiently allocate state resources, and direct investments where they are most needed,” said Governor Carney. “GEAR is a long-term effort committed to those goals. This website will help us solicit ideas from state employees, and Delawareans across our state, to improve the way our state government does business. Delawareans expect us to responsibly manage their money, and we’re committed to doing just that.”

The GEAR Board, which started meeting earlier this year, will develop recommendations for increasing efficiency and effectiveness across state government. Its members will explore ways to improve Delaware’s strategic financial planning process, and expand the use of metrics in determining how to allocate state resources.

By December 1 of each year, the board will submit a report to the Governor, including recommendations that may be included in the recommended state budget. Recommendations could include ways that state government agencies can share services, and new methods for improving the recruitment, development, and retention of state employees.

GEAR’s recommendations will be intended to consistently improve the way the state delivers services, and to improve the quality of those services.

Delawareans can visit the new GEAR website to learn more about the group’s mission and areas of focus, and to submit ideas for improvement.

“We are appreciative of the continuing input that GEAR has received to date from State employees and the public,” said James Myran, Director of GEAR, and Bryan Sullivan, OMB Director of Management Efficiency. “The new website offers an additional means to share new ideas for sustainable improvements to the efficiency of government operations and demonstrates a commitment to creating a culture of continuous improvement statewide.”

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Governor Carney Marks Milestone in Housing Delawareans in Need

State Rental Assistance Program has housed 1,200 clients on 5th anniversary of collaboration

NEW CASTLE, Del. – Governor John Carney celebrated Monday the fifth anniversary of the State Rental Assistance Program, which has provided housing for 1,200 Delawareans through a unique collaboration supporting those in special need of help. The anniversary event took place at the Herman S. Holloway Campus of the Department of Health and Social Services.

“We are providing a bridge to independence, helping more Delawareans live self-sufficient lives,” said Governor Carney. “SRAP is a great example of how government agencies can work together to more efficiently deliver important services, and effectively help Delawareans in need. Thank you also to members of the General Assembly for their continued support of the program.”

The State Rental Assistance Program, or SRAP, provides rental vouchers to low-income Delawareans who require affordable housing and supportive services to live safely and independently in the community. Case managers help provide or coordinate those services and help residents through the rental process. SRAP helps particularly vulnerable populations – people exiting or at risk of admission to state long-term care institutions, youth aging out of foster care, and families for whom housing is a barrier to reunification, among others. All clients must be referred by an agency or partner.

Since 2011, more than 200 SRAP clients have successfully transitioned out of the program, either by handling rental payments on their own or by receiving housing assistance from another source. There are more than 720 families and individuals currently housed through SRAP.

SRAP client Zoraida Baez found the first apartment she has lived in that she can call her own through the program. “It’s such a relief,” said Baez, of Newark, who has also experienced homelessness. “I love it. I can come and go when I want. It’s my own place.”

SRAP is operated jointly by the Delaware State Housing Authority, which issues the vouchers; the Department of Health and Social Services, which refers clients in various programs; and the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families, which refers former foster youth and reunification families. Funding comes from the state’s General Fund through DSHA, as well as through DHSS’ Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, totaling $5.3 million.

“This is about caring for the whole person – not just looking at one part of their needs at a time,” said DSHA Director Anas Ben Addi. “We heard from advocates that the lack of affordable housing is a barrier to many low-income people and families with special needs to live and be successful, and we responded. This partnership shows that it is possible to serve people better, with a better quality of life, while reducing public costs.”

“The State Rental Assistance Program gives vulnerable populations the one thing we all want: The opportunity to have a place to call home,” said DHSS Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker. “For people leaving facilities or individuals with disabilities, these housing vouchers offer an affordable and safe way for them to live in the community. It’s not always easy to start anew, but the teamwork of SRAP makes the transition manageable, including clients to supportive services. The collaboration across state government provides a better quality of life for the vulnerable people we serve, saves the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars and helps us build a healthier Delaware.”

“For young people leaving our foster care system, the challenges of transitioning to adulthood can be quite daunting. Sometimes their most basic needs, like a safe and affordable home, can seem unobtainable,” said DSCYF Secretary Josette Manning. “The SRAP program helps our youth secure a home so they can focus on meeting their other needs, such as education, employment and even basic health services. We are extremely grateful for this program because without it, it would be impossible for our foster children to thrive as adults.”

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