Gov. Wes Moore is directing his administration to scour the state’s spending for waste and inefficiency, with a goal of producing $50 million in savings.
Moore announced the effort, called the Government Modernization Initiative, two days after promising to propose a budget with $2 billion in cuts, an attempt to address a projected $3 billion deficit.
“It’s finding the breakage in the systems and fixing them so we’re not papering it over in more expensive ways later on,” Moore said of the initiative in a Friday announcement.
The initiative is aimed at finding inconsistent or unnecessary spending throughout state government, fixing “things that have long been broken.”
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What kinds of Maryland inefficiencies are being eyed?
Gov. WesMoore on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, announced the Government Modernization Initiative, aimed at cutting inefficient government spending.
Moore went on to mention inefficiencies including under-utilized state vehicles and inconsistently-priced technology and equipment that, if addressed, could save the state $50 million “this year alone.”
Chief Performance Officer Asma Mirza and the performance cabinet will spearhead the effort. Elisabeth Sachs, a longtime nonprofit and state/local government leader, will also contribute to the project.
Boston Consulting Group will also be brought on to aid in the analysis. In a pay-for-performance contract approved in October, the state will pay the firm, one of the “big three” in strategy consulting, a 20% share of the savings achieved, with a maximum payout of $15 million.
The study will begin this year, with a goal of implementing changes by fiscal year 2026, which begins in July.
“We know the challenges that exist,” Moore said. “It’s created a chance for this team to show what we’re made of, because we will address it, and Maryland will grow.”
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This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Maryland ‘modernization’ plan aims to find $50 million in savings