December 17, 2009

Markell Announces Statewide Print Reduction Initiatives to Save Taxpayer Dollars

Estimated combined savings will total more than $615,000 in FY10 and FY11

DOVER -- Gov. Jack Markell today announced the consolidation of two state agency print shops, which will save more than $350,000 annually, and the re-evaluation or elimination of six major statewide print projects, which will generate an estimated savings of more than $380,000. Cross-agency collaboration to realize these savings has been ongoing since the start of Markell’s term in January.

“Today’s announcement shows the kinds of steps we are taking to make government more effective and more efficient,” Markell said. “We are working together to identify ways to save taxpayer money.”

Effective December 31, the Department of Technology and Information’s (DTI) Print Shop will stop printing approximately 421 documents and eliminate the 4100 dot-matrix printer from their equipment complement, which will generate an estimated annual savings of more than $129,000. All of the reports will be available online for agency use. In February 2010, DTI employees will co-locate with employees from the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Printing and Publishing Office, and the 4100 dot-matrix printer will be removed and sold in August 2010. In addition, the State will realize an estimated annual savings of $98,000 from a reduced use of contracts within DTI.

“DTI is very proud to support the Governor’s mission to create a more responsive and effective government for all Delawareans,” said DTI Secretary Jim Sills. “Our printing services are more in line with the processes PPO performs every day, so this consolidation made sense. We will continue to evaluate our core services, as we look to streamline all of our functions for the betterment of state government.”

In addition to the print shop consolidation, the administration is also working to eliminate or modify six major print projects statewide. They include:

• The elimination of FY 2011 Operating and Capital Budget book printing with information available on CD and online, with an estimated savings of $18,600;

• The consolidated purchase of Driver’s Manuals with the Department of Education, school districts and the Division of Motor Vehicles, with an estimated savings of $90,300;

• The reduction in the number of printed Delaware State Police Annual Reports, with an estimated savings of $7,000;

• The elimination of DNREC dog and boating license printing, with an estimated savings of $49,900.

• The elimination of OMB Statewide Benefits’ 2009 Actives Open Enrollment booklets, with an estimated savings of $180,700; and

• The elimination of the Division of Insurance’s Elder Care Brochure booklets, which were replaced with flyers directing more traffic online, with an estimated savings of $38,000.

Per Markell’s plan to reduce all printing within state agencies, OMB Director Ann Visalli issued a policy memo recently requesting all printed reports, as required by committee, task force or council within the executive branch, be submitted to the recipient electronically, unless otherwise required by Delaware code or mandate. Printing of documents and reports should be carefully considered by each cabinet secretary or agency head prior to production. The print reduction initiative will be conducted on an ongoing basis statewide.