|
At a ceremony in Washington, D.C. last evening the State of Iowa, was named one of six recipients of the prestigious Innovations in American Government Award - often referred to as the "Oscars" of government - from the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. Or, click here to view the Charter Agency Award Webpage.
The Innovations Award is a program of the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and is administered in partnership with the Council for Excellence in Government. One of six award winners, Charter Agencies will receive a $100,000 grant to support replication of its significant and creative efforts.
Iowa's Charter Agencies has re-invented the relationship between state government and its bureaucracy. By signing agreements with Iowa's Governor that specify their status as "chartered," agencies agree to be held strictly accountable for measurable benefits in return for exemption from many of the state's bureaucratic requirements. The concept is a revolution in government management that takes square aim at bureaucracy's tangle of red tape - which both frustrates and disappoints the public and stifles those working in government - and redirects that energy into innovation to achieve the results Iowans most value.
The state granted six Iowa agencies charter status in July, 2003: the Department of Revenue, Department of Corrections, Department of Human Services, Department of Natural Resources, the Iowa Veterans Home, and the Alcoholic Beverage Division.
Charter Agencies accepted the charge to find better ways to meet citizens' needs, to be held accountable for those results and to reduce costs and/or generate more revenue. In just the first year of operation, charter agencies exceeded their financial performance targets by 50 percent and generated $22 million of savings for the State. Charter Agency flexibilities allowed the Department of Revenue to cut costs and create additional revenue totaling $1.3 million, exceeding its goal of $1 million in improved efficiencies. Similarly, the Alcoholic Beverage Division produced a 22 percent increase in revenue in its first year as a charter agency.
In addition to the monetary savings, Charter Agencies are reducing the turnaround time for permits; reducing probation failures; improving the speed of issuing tax refunds; providing women inmates with important job skills opportunities; and collaborating to improve service to customers.
"Charter Agencies is taking a new approach to government management by concentrating on the results that government agencies achieve," said Stephen Goldsmith, Director of the Innovations in American Government Awards. "Those results have a real and significant impact on the people of Iowa."
To view the official Innovation in American Government Award press release click here.
To learn more about Charter Agencies please contact Babak Armajani, at the Public Strategies Group, or visit the new Charter Agencies Website.
|
