Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Sen. Seabaugh to chair Senate Task Force on Value Government

State Senator Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) has been appointed by Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle to chair the Senate Task Force on Value Government. The task force will look to determine how state government can provide services in a more effective and efficient manner to Georgia citizens. Ultimately, the panel will find ways to give taxpayers the best value possible in state government.

“We will seek to establish performance standards to know what value Georgians are getting for the tax dollars they pay,” said Sen. Seabaugh. “By establishing these standards, we can increase accountability for the tax dollars we spend and know what programs or services to cut and what to better fund.”

The Task Force plans to work in coordination with the Commission for a New Georgia to make recommendations to the legislature for legislative or budgetary changes to improve service delivery or lower the cost of services.

“It’s important to efficiently and wisely spend the public’s hard-earned dollars, and it’s equally crucial to do so in an open and transparent manner,” added Sen. Seabaugh. “This task force will work to ensure both.”

In addition to his leadership position of Majority Whip, Sen. Seabaugh has served on the Senate Appropriations Committee for six years and has been diligent in challenging appropriated tax dollars. He has been successful in cutting programs and department budgets that were unable to prove their value. Senators Bill Heath (R-Bremen), Judson Hill (R-Marietta) and Ed Tarver (D-Augusta) will also serve on the Task Force on Value Government.

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