Open government and transparency is a good thing and an admirable goal. Any and all measures ensuring that government is easily accessible and accountable to the taxpayer should be encouraged. In 2007, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 1132, sponsored by Don Clodfelter (D-Mecklenberg) and passed unanimously in both the Senate and the House. The new law created a program evaluation division to evaluate whether public services are delivered in an effective and efficient manner and in accordance with the law. The findings and reports are to assist lawmakers with oversight of government program and reassure taxpayers that their money is being spent wisely.
Just completed projects (with final reports found here) include:
1. Evaluate the effectiveness of the State personnel administration system;
2. Determine the appropriate organizational structure to most effectively manage state-supported agricultural research facilities;
3. Determine the most effective governance and state-funding structure for the seven regional economic development commissions; and
4. Evaluate the efficiency of enhanced mental health and substance abuse services by reviewing program costs and processes. This is the first part of a multi-part study. No report on this project has been posted yet.
Pending projects with final reports due in December 2008 (just in time for consideration by the new 2009 General Assembly) include:
1. Determine the effectiveness of the current allocation system for state water and sewer infrastructure funding and identify permanent funding alternatives;
2. Evaluate the effectiveness of private duty nursing alternatives under Medicaid;
3. Evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the motor vehicle safety and air emissions inspection system;
4. Evaluate the effectiveness of the Administrative Office of the Courts management of information technology resources;
5. Evaluate the effectiveness of enhanced mental health and substance abuse services by reviewing service quality and outcomes. Part II of the above referenced mental health project.
6. Evaluate the effectiveness of the Alcohol Beverage Control System and identify improvement options, including privatization; and
7. Conduct a policy analysis of education governance in North Carolina for Pre-Kindergarten through Post-Secondary.
An ongoing project, producing a comprehensive NC Accountability report is expected to take several years. It will “develop a comparative inventory of individual services and activities of state government and quantitative indicators, including unit costs for measuring State activities. The pilot agency will be the Department of Transportation.”
Transparency and real accountability in government will work only if it is consistent, complete and dependable. A program evaluation division looking at whether tax funded programs are working is a good start but it?s not enough.
