Accountability and Transparency

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Governor Patrick    FY2012 House 1 Budget Recommendation:
    Issues in Brief

    Deval L. Patrick, Governor
    Timothy P. Murray, Lt. Governor

 

Governor’s Proposed Reforms

Massachusetts government can no longer function as it has in the past, new fiscal constraints caused by the global recession require greater efficiency and more effective management to ensure we stretch every taxpayer dollar as far as possible.  We need more informed and evidence-based decision making; real time awareness, greater ability to monitor, manage, and fix problems; more meaningful public engagement; and increased clarity about performance tradeoffs and resource allocations.  In addition, the public is demanding and the federal government is mandating more transparency and accountability.  We also need to make sure that all of our Executive Branch agencies are strategically aligned in support of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor’s priorities for the next term.  To this end, the Patrick-Murray Administration is proposing changes to the Executive Office for Administration and Finance (A&F) that will expand their authority and role in monitoring government performance, accountability and transparency.  Specifically, the Patrick-Murray Administration proposes to establish a new Office of Commonwealth Performance, Accountability and Transparency (CPAT) within A&F (M.G.L. Chapter 7).  The office will be charged with overseeing and implementing the following responsibilities.

Performance Management

Performance management is an ongoing, systematic approach to improving results through the use of evidence-based decision making and management, continuous organizational learning, and a focus on accountability for performance accomplished by: