Synopsis
In 2008, Nevada's governor formed the Nevada Spending and Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission to make recommendations on providing quality services to its citizens for the least money. He appointed business leaders to form the most knowledgeable commission in Nevada's history. Rather than a voluminous report at the end, he asked the Commission to forward recommendations to him every 90 days, so that changes could be implemented expeditiously. He told commissioners not to be concerned with fiscal crises, or the political implications of its recommendations. Over 18 months, the SAGE Commission made 44 recommendations that, if implemented, will save or enhance state revenues by approximately two billion dollars over five years, while resulting in hundreds of new efficiencies. The SAGE Commission is proud of its work, which has not cost the state a single dollar because it was funded by a private, non-profit corporation. What disappointed these volunteer commissioners was the reluctance to implement the vast majority of its recommendations. Although the SAGE Commission was not designed to solve the short term revenue crises facing the state, if any of its key recommendations had been enacted in 2009, savings from them would be evident in the 2011-13 budget cycle, where the state faces a $3 billion deficit in an $8 billion budget. This book outlines the ten most important Commission recommendations. It describes how they and other recommendations were developed and discusses why they were not enacted. The author then opines about Nevada's fiscal future if recommendations like these are not approved. He concludes that a "grand bargain" between those who oppose any new taxes and those who think they are essential may well be necessary. The SAGE Commission has already addressed the essential first step of evaluating tax expenditures. Appendices include unabridged versions of all 44 recommendations.
About the Author
Frank Partlow was Executive Director of the Nevada Spending and Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission from May, 2008-December, 2009. He retired from the United States Army in 1990, as a Brigadier General, following a career spanning 34 years. From 1991-2002, Frank founded and acted as Executive Director of the Northern Nevada Network, an elite group of independent businessmen for whom he conducted research and analyses on all aspects of local government. He was an adjunct Associate Professor in Political Science at the University of Nevada Reno and a biweekly newspaper columnist. From 2002-2005, he held Presidential appointments as Chief of Staff and later, Special Assistant to the Public Printer of the US. He directed strategic planning during the transformation of the Government Printing Office, a 3500-employee federal agency in Washington, DC and was a principal advisor to the Public Printer on all aspects of the agency's multi-million dollar business. Previously, he served in the US defense Intelligence Agency as Director of Estimates, responsible for providing the President, Cabinet and defense officials international long range forecasts. Earlier, he was the Joint Chiefs of Staff Representative to the US negotiating team which reached the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with the former Soviet Union in 1987. Frank graduated from the US Military Academy with a BS in 1960, from Stanford with an MA in 1967 and from the National Defense University in 1979. He was a Senior Fellow at Harvard, 1982-83. He speaks French and has published numerous journal articles. He is married with two daughters and four grandchildren. Among his military awards is the Defense Distinguished Service Medal. His 2001 book, Observation Point--An Outsider's Look Inside Northern Nevada, is available on the internet.
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