Buescher proposes cost-savings for 2011 budget

Credits employees with doing more with less

Denver, October 28, 2010 – Colorado Secretary of State Bernie Buescher will soon submit his 2011-12 budget request to the Joint Budget Committee for review and consideration. The budget package includes a reduction of four and one half full-time employees at a savings of almost $318,000.

“Because the Department of State isn’t funded through General Fund tax dollars, we’re following suit with many of our customers by doing more with less,” Buescher said. “Our challenge is to continue to provide the level of service that our customers have come to expect using fewer resources.”

Since Buescher came into office, the department’s annual spending has gone from $24,081,778 and 134 employees in 2009 to $18,305,190 and 128 employees for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010. The department is almost entirely funded through business filing fees.

“My aim since taking office has been to generate efficiencies and streamline services, without sacrificing customer service,” Buescher said. “This budget is proof that we’re meeting that goal, and I’m happy to say that we’re not done yet. Like most Colorado businesses, we’re currently evaluating how we provide services to the public and whether a potential reorganization could provide these services more efficiently.”

As part of that effort, Buescher named the former president of The Children’s Museum of Denver and the Timothy and Bernadette Marquez Foundation Tom Downey as Director of Business and Licensing. Tom’s six-month employment will review both divisions to identify potential areas of consolidation, cross-training of employees and how best to pursue any transition. Downey’s employment costs, which will not exceed $60,000, will be offset by vacancy savings generated by openings in both the Director and Deputy Director positions in the Licensing Division.