Bacon's Rebellion

In a Peter Bacque update in the Times-Dispatch on the Virginia-CGI software deal, I found two things that struck me as curious.

The state is about to buy $300 million in enterprise software from CGI, the big Canadian firm. CGI has said that by “improving the collection of overdue bills and maximizing federal revenues … it can bring in an extra $500 million for the state in seven years and also save the government an additional $125 million.” Wow! But check the reaction of Tim Bass, state enterprise applications program director:

“We’re skeptical of that,” Bass said. “We do a great job of [cost recovery and collections] already. The numbers they have floated around are in no way, shape or form endorsed by the commonwealth.

“It’s not like we see some huge pot of gold out there,” he said.

Maybe it’s just me, but aren’t unrealistic claims by a vendor a big red flag? Is the state skeptical of anything else?

The second curiousity for me stems from Virginia having been named the “best managed” state in the union earlier this year. According to Bacque’s story, look at what Virginia has to overcome to manage itself:

State agencies currently run more than 150 financial computer systems, over 100 different accounting systems, at least 18 purchasing and supply IT systems, more than 50 computerized personnel systems, and more than 60 administrative IT systems.

This number may be accurate in a technical sense, but I’ve no doubt that it’s closer to one of those “bureaucratic legends” that float around, like Gov. Warner’s claim early in his term that the state buys computers from 30 different vendors (my agency’s IT guy snorted when he heard that one), or the claim that there are 60 different worker training programs in the state (try to access that list).

If Virginia is doing such a great job of cost recovery and collections, plus managing itself so well despite all those different systems, do we really need to throw everything overboard for one CGI solution? Just asking.

Jeff Schapiro of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, in a front page, above the fold story, reports that state employees have set a new record for giving to charity this year. Over $4 million dollars went to the Commonwealth of Virginia campaign, including over $500,000 to hurricane relief.

Schapiro doesn’t mention the unsung heroes of this effort–the individual agency coordinators for the campaign. These individuals have the thankless tasks of sending out materials to their fellow employees, encouraging giving, reminding everyone of deadlines, and collecting the donations. The coordinators deserve a lot of credit.

Who is chosen to be the coordinator, both at state agencies and at private companies, is a fascinating peek into the psychology of indidvidual organizations. Some entities choose to slap the job on an already busy administrative staffer, some choose an “up and comer,” and some choose a staff member on the way out. However the choice is made, the coordinators perform a vital function and should be commended.

After all that’s been written about traffic on this blog, I just had the most wonderful experience. There’s Christmas magic in the air.

I drove from Richmond to Manassas–exit 79 to exit 150 on I-95–almost without tapping the brakes today. The return trip was just as good. At times I thought I was dreaming–cars passed in the left lane and slower traffic stayed right. I never saw a cop and don’t think I ever dropped below 65 mph.

Oh, and the family time went well, too, with all the presents opened during halftime of the Redskins big win. It was like the good old days in so many ways.

Wish it could always be Christmas Eve … may everyone enjoy the spirit of the season as I did today.

Since things are slow and I’ve been quiet ….

Paul Goldman I think Paul Goldman running his political consulting business on the “side” while employed by the City of Richmond is/was wrong. I think the Kaine campaign hiring him was a bad decision and that they should admit it was a mistake. That said, I think Goldman’s punishment–suspended for six weeks without pay–was unduly harsh. Apparently, the city wanted to make an example of Goldman, but I think plenty of city employees have been running businesses on the “side” and a less severe punishment would have been enough put everyone on notice. There’s a difference between Goldman and some poor Department of Public Works schlub who hauls brush on the “side.” I would hope the city would offer a disclosure/approval policy and a prohibition from marketing or performing outside work on city time.

Blog the Budget Not many takers on our opportunity to comment on the budget Governor Warner recently submitted. That’s not surprising–it is the holiday season and people are busy. Of course, maybe that’s why so little of the budget has ever been challenged. By the time folks get out of holiday mode, the session has started and the budget goes into committees where the real action takes place more or less out of public view. Meanwhile, high profile abortion, “droopy drawers,” or open container debates are reported breathlessly.

Special Elections I hope bloggers in the districts where special elections are being contested try to get interviews with the candidates. While I don’t think candidates in special elections should be any more forthcoming about their views than the candidates we elected in November, it would be nice to know if they have some familiarity with the just introduced budget and some degree of passion on the major issues of transportation, education, and public safety.

Pit Bulls I love dogs–my mutt “Rags” is one of the joys of my life. However, I will support proposed legislation regulating dangerous dogs such as pit bulls and I believe the woman on trial in Fredericksburg, if it is proven she owned the dogs that killed an elderly woman, should be put in jail for a long time. There are so many choices of dog breeds that to own a breed that is constantly in the news for aggressive behavior is unconscionable.

Since Bacon is grinchy this morning I’ll take another tack — this is what cheers me: the orderly, gentle and reasonable way the McDonnell-Deeds recount was conducted and concluded. Hundreds of Virginians took time out of a holiday week to take part, the vast majority of course for no or little pay (the legal meters were running.) Perhaps things got testy in some of the count rooms, and of course Creigh’s many friends and supporters are disappointed, but even on the partisan blogs it was clear both sides were treating each other and the effort with respect. The winner was the election process itself. Deeds’ concession showed real class (as Brad Marrs’ had the day before when the recount went against him.)

To everyone who took any part at all on either side or in the middle, thank you.

I am confident that if any glaring errors had surfaced, the court would have taken proper notice. No human election process will ever be perfect, whether manual or electronic. Doubt will always linger with a result that razor thin. Sadly, the biggest winner on Nov. 8 is unchanged –none of the above — since most people didn’t vote at all. Those are the people I don’t get. (Inappropriate comment removed by author in spirit of the season.)

Open store doors in the middle of winter, that’s what bugs me!

I walked through Stony Point mall the other night. It was about 30 degrees outside, and a number of retailers kept their doors wide open. I suppose that’s supposed to be more enticing to customers. I find it ridiculous. What a waste — a waste of money, a waste of energy and a small but utterly useless waste of finite resources. Not to mention, a contribution to global warming, too. Just call me Scrooge!

Retailers be forewarned: There is at least one customer who will steer clear of your establishment if you keep your doors wide open. (Of course, I’d probably steer clear anyway. I hate shopping. But I could deal out some real damage if I could persuade my wife to do the same!)

No matter how you slice it, state spending has been growing steadily and aggressively over the past 10 years. The 2001-2002 recession briefly dampened the upward climb, but spending has more than made up for the momentarily lull since then.

Over the past 10 years, the total operating budget for the state rose 80 percent, according to the Legislative Audit and Review Commission’s annual report on state spending. Adjusting for inflation, spending still increased 45 percent. Adjusting again for population growth, it still increased 30 percent.

Read the JLARC report here, or read the “cliff notes” version in Barton Hinkle’s Richmond Times-Dispatch column here.

Click here to read a summary of capital projects.

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Click here to read the goals and budget of the Nonstate Entities.

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Click here to read the goals and budget of Central Appropriations.

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Click here to read the goals and budget of the Office of Technology.

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Click here to read the goals and budget of the Office of Natural Resources.

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Click here to read the goals and budget of the Office of Finance

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Click here to read the goals and budget of the Office of Commerce and Trade.

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Click here to read the goals and budget of the Office of Administration.

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