DiNAPOLI: “RESTACKING” INITIATIVE SAVES STATE $33 MILLION
The state Office of General Services’ (OGS) efforts to reorganize leased state agency office space saved New York taxpayers $33.1 million over a three-year period, exceeding savings goals by $7 million, according to an audit released by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
“The “ReStacking” initiative, as carried out by OGS, was successful in achieving significant savings,” DiNapoli said. “I’d like to commend Commissioner RoAnn Destito for her work saving taxpayer dollars and streamlining state operations. Smart efforts like this will save taxpayers millions more in the long-run and prove that government can successfully streamline and reduce waste.”
The state’s Savings and Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission commenced work in January 2011 to reduce state government costs. As part of that mission, the commission sought to decrease the amount of leased property occupied by state agencies. Officials estimated this could save New York about $26 million for the three years ended March 31, 2014.
To achieve this cost-savings goal, the Division of Budget (DOB) entered
into contracts with
a private firm, United Group Limited Equis Operations (UGL), to establish
a strategic approach focusing primarily on managing, occupying, and procuring
agency office space. DOB also commissioned OGS to implement the effort,
commonly known as ReStacking.
The main focus of the ReStacking initiative was to consolidate the use of existing space throughout the portfolio of state-owned and leased space. The first phase of this process created large sections of vacant space that, in turn, could be used to house agencies and employees currently occupying leased space.
Efforts on consolidating office space were focused on the Albany and New York City regions, largely because the amount of leased office space at these locations represented the greatest opportunity for savings. As a result, some agencies have consolidated operations within their current locations, while others moved from one location to another. For the remaining areas of the state, specifically the western region, OGS plans to move agencies into space in state-owned buildings as private leases expire.
While auditors found OGS’s efforts to be successful, they also suggested the office develop a method for regularly monitoring and updating actual savings and expenses related to agency moves on a statewide basis.
OGS generally agreed with the audit’s findings and indicated it would look at ways of improving the way it records savings and expenses associated with the project.
For a copy of the report visit: http://osc.state.ny.us/audits/allaudits/093014/13s68.pdf