Friday, June 17, 2005
Contact: Jessica Robinson, (573)751-0290
Blunt’s Leaders Erase Excess Services
Jefferson City—Gov. Matt Blunt’s direction to department directors to improve efficiency and reduce wasteful spending triggered the Departments of Corrections and Mental Health to identify and erase duplicate services that cost a quarter million dollars a year.
"Taxpayers were paying twice for the same services, for the same people. It was just an obvious waste of our state resources," said Blunt. "Eliminating this excess is just one of many ways we are working to improve state government and reduce the oversized bureaucracy."
Following Blunt’s guidance, Department of Corrections Director Larry Crawford identified substance abuse services they offered to offenders were also offered by the Department of Mental Health. Crawford worked with Mental Health Director Dorn Schuffman to consolidate the programs and erase the repeated services.
Now offenders returning to the community will receive services only from the Department of Mental Health and all community substance abuse services will be offered through the one agency. The change will save the Department of Corrections $250,000 annually.