Information Technology Consolidation
[ index ]
FY2010 House 1 Budget Recommendation:
Policy Brief
Deval L. Patrick, Governor
Timothy P. Murray, Lt. Governor
Governor’s Proposal
The economic recession has compelled states to maximize economies of scale and evaluate current management practices in order to adopt a more efficient way of doing business. Recognizing the trend toward Information Technology (IT) consolidation to reduce costs, enhance data-security and improve data-sharing, Governor Patrick will issue an Executive Order “Regarding the Enhancement of the Efficiency and Effectiveness of the Information Technology used by the Executive Department,” to consolidates IT spending at the Secretariat level, including networks, data centers and shared applications. The Governor’s fiscal year 2010 H.1 Budget reflects the results of the consolidated budgets.
IT Consolidation
The Patrick-Murray Administration’s transition team reported that the Commonwealth’s current decentralized IT management and funding structure is inefficient in many ways. In response, IT leaders from across the Commonwealth collaborated in developing the IT Strategy for the Commonwealth: 2009-2011. The plan identified Secretariat consolidation as one of seven key initiatives that must be pursued to build the foundation for the Commonwealth’s technology future. The goals of Secretariat consolidation are to: align Secretaries’ IT resources with their business strategies and priorities; standardize IT resources and create efficiencies; and align Secretariat IT plans with the Commonwealth IT Strategic Plan.
As a result of secretariat consolidation, eight Secretariat Chief Information Officers (SCIO) will be appointed with authority over all IT spending, including personnel. Additionally, an annual IT plan must be submitted to the Commonwealth’s Chief Information Officer (CCIO) to ensure consistency with statewide IT goals and a focus on efficiency and cost savings. As part of the aggressive line-item consolidations proposed in H.1, this plan will transfer IT-related funding that is currently spent in 183 budgetary accounts into eight budgetary accounts and funding from 318 off-budget accounts, including retained revenue, trust, chargeback and federal accounts, will consolidate to eight Intragovernmental Service Fund (ISF) accounts for each secretariat.
| New Secretariat | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IT Spending | FY10 Spending | Budgetary/ISF | |||
| Secretariat | Bugetary | Off-Budget | Budgetary | Off-Budget | Accounts |
| 20 | 27 | $ 32,689,322 | $ 20,771,507 | 1100-1700/1701 | |
| Energy & Enviromental Affairs | 32 | 74 | $ 9,822,648 | $ 4,841,523 | 2000-1700/1701 |
| Housing & Economic Development | 14 | 26 | $ 3,457,977 | $ 3,924,404 | 7002-0017/0018 |
| Education | 18 | 15 | $ 8,940,159 | $ 1,975,782 | 7009-1700/1701 |
| Labour & Workforce | 5 | 28 | $ 306,664 | $ 19,041,403 | 7002-0170/0171 |
| Heath & Human Sevices | 70 | 110 | $ 94,393,156 | $ 32,704,589 | 4000-1700/1701 |
| Public Saftey | 19 | 30 | $ 22,103,875 | $ 12,316,836 | 8000-1700/1701 |
| Transportation & Public Works | 5 | 8 | $ 6,738,978 | $ 10,362,132 | 6000-1700/1701 |
| Total | 183 | 318 | $ 178,452,788 | $ 105,938,176 | |
The Governor’s plan also includes an infrastructure consolidation plan, which requires the CCIO to develop and implement a two-year plan to consolidate data/telecommunication networks, data center services, website hosting and portal services, and shared enterprise services.
Benefits of a Successful Consolidation
A successful consolidation will streamline IT operations to reduce costs, improve data-security and enable agencies to provide efficient and easily accessible services for all constituents. Additional benefits include:
Improved Service Delivery – Citizens increasingly expect a seamless experience when dealing with government. Secretariats will be able to more easily create a single point of entry for multiple services from multiple agencies.
Improved Decision-Making – Accurate and timely data on our IT systems will enable better decisions and strategies to manage the Commonwealth’s increasingly complex IT resources.
Reinvestment of Funds – Cost savings will enable Secretaries to reallocate resources to address immediate needs or create long-term benefits.
Infrastructure and Maintenance Upgrades – By simplifying our networks and standardizing our systems, the Commonwealth will be able to better monitor, maintain and upgrade major systems.
Prepared by the Executive Office for Administration and Finance · Rooms 373 & 272 · State House
For more information contact:
Chantal Mont-Louis (chantal.mont-louis@state.ma.us)
www.mass.gov/budget/governor
top of page