Governor Paterson Launches New, Data-Driven Initiative to Improve Performance and Efficiency in Government

ALBANY, NY (03/17/2010)(readMedia)-- Governor David A. Paterson today announced the launch of an innovative, data-driven system for improving government performance and efficiency. The program – EmpireStat: Running State Government by the Numbers – was first announced in the Governor's 2010 State of the State address and uses existing IT services, data systems and face-to-face public meetings between the Governor's staff and agency heads to monitor and improve State agency performance. EmpireStat takes a data-driven approach to the management of State government by focusing on the State's performance in individual programs that are paid for with taxpayer dollars.

"The economic and fiscal crisis has made one thing perfectly clear – business as usual in State government is not acceptable, which is why I have made it a priority to hold our government to a high level of accountability, performance and efficiency," Governor Paterson said. "Through EmpireStat, we can see if we are spending taxpayer dollars on programs that are actually working. This approach will significantly improve the past practice of yearly budget increases without asking questions about how we are performing."

EmpireStat will set the model in New York for public monitoring of State agency performance on an ongoing basis, starting with improving four targeted areas: Economic Development/Job Creation; Public Safety; Road Safety; and Health Care and Vulnerable Youth. Each of these overarching themes contains individual categories associated with specific government programs that will be monitored for improvement in achieving their predetermined goals. The Governor's office will be in regular contact with the relevant agencies for briefings on progress and strategic discussions on fixing roadblocks to performance where necessary.

The entire web-based program will be available to the public, and regular performance reports will be posted on the EmpireStat page on the Governor's Office of Taxpayer Accountability website – www.Taxpayer.ny.gov.

"This is the first time New York is putting State operations and performance under a microscope of data analysis. The numbers don't lie – if there's a problem, we'll find it and fix it," Governor Paterson continued. "EmpireStat is just the beginning of a new age of government performance oversight and accountability, and my administration is using this fiscal crisis as an opportunity to re-evaluate and reform the way we conduct State operations and spend taxpayer dollars. We need to prioritize and target our scarce resources so they provide the greatest return on the taxpayers' investment."

EmpireStat is part of Governor Paterson's Office of Taxpayer Accountability (OTA). The Governor created the OTA to save taxpayer dollars and provide property tax relief by shrinking government; reducing costs; eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse; improving local government efficiency; and increasing transparency and accountability. For more information on Governor Paterson's initiatives to cut government costs, improve efficiency, and manage the State budget crisis, visit the OTA website at www.Taxpayer.ny.gov.

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