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HARRISBURG -- More than $457 million in state government spending can be trimmed in coming years, according to a cost-cutting commission report released Monday at the state Capitol.

The 10-member Senate Government Management and Cost Study Commission, composed of current and former lawmakers, businesspeople, educators and others and chaired by state Sen. David Argall, R-29, unveiled its final report at a press conference in the Capitol Media Center. The report identifies potential cost savings ranging from eliminating unnecessary Department of Community and Economic Development grant programs to tighter controls on public welfare benefits.

The report addresses future state budgets and the vast majority of the recommendations included will have no effect on the 2010-11 budget, which is still being hashed out by House and Senate leaders and Gov. Ed Rendell.

Members of the panel did say it is possible proposed changes to the corrections budget could be incorporated in the upcoming budget, but it is unclear whether legislation would be needed to make those changes reality.

Many of the recommendations do require legislative change, while others require only changes to office practices and stricter oversight.

The estimate includes at least $380 million in potential savings in the welfare department, mainly though eliminating waste, duplication of services and fraud.

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The report also recommends the creation of a new state department -- the Office of Continuous Improvement -- which would conduct annual reviews of all state departments.

"We strongly recommend this ... be conducted on a continuous basis," Argall said of reviewing state expenses. "We are sure such an office could easily pay for itself."

He said there are no estimates yet on how much it would cost to run such an office, how many employees it would need Replica A Lange & Sohne Watches or when it could be up and running.

In its report, the commission found potential savings inside the walls of prisons and courtrooms.

Nearly $59 million can be cut from the state Department of Corrections over three years through a litany of measures, beginning with giving judges more leeway on nonviolent offenders and reducing state-imposed minimum sentences to only serving inmates two meals a day on Sunday rather than three, according to the report.

The state's prison population has risen from just over 8,000 in 1980 to more than 51,000 now, and the department's budget has followed suit.

"This is spiraling out of control," state Sen. Daylin Leach, D- 17, said of corrections spending during the press conference.

Leach said the corrections budget was about $94 million 30 yers ago. In the 2010-11 budget, he said it is expected to hit $1.9 billion, making it the fastest-growing line item in the budget and third-biggest item overall.

Specifically, the report recommends passage of several bills already introduced in the Senate by state Sen. Steward Greenleaf, R- 12.

Senate Bill 1145 would require judges to use a "risk assessment" of inmates, where their likelihood to break the law again would taken into account. The threat posed to the public would also be taken into account by judges.

The goal, according to the commission, would be to reduce the number of nonviolent offenders crowReplica Watches
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