Governor Deval Patrick's Budget Recommendation - House 2 Fiscal Year 2013

Governor's Budget Recommendation FY 2013

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Improved Facilities Management


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Governor Patrick    FY 2013 Budget Recommendation:
    Issues in Brief

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

 

Building on the Patrick-Murray Administration’s commitment to change the way government does business, agencies across the Commonwealth have taken steps to improve the management of state-owned facilities.  The Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAM) is leading this effort as the state agency responsible for public-building design, construction, maintenance and real estate.  DCAM continues to transform its role to better serve the facilities, employees and citizens of the Commonwealth.

Facilities Management Consolidation

Currently, each individual state agency is responsible for maintenance and upkeep for much of the Commonwealth’s roughly 5,000 active buildings.  Through the Governor’s FY 2013 budget proposal, DCAM will begin consolidating the management of state buildings under the Office of Facilities Management (OFM) to create a central source of facilities management expertise.  These changes will strengthen DCAM’s ability to preserve existing assets and serve as a pilot program for their expanding role.  OFM will target facilities that have consistently faced funding gaps, facilities that do not have professional maintenance staff and new state-of-the-art facilities as they come online.  Gradually, OFM will take on the responsibility of managing and maintaining additional state-owned property. 

Shifting facilities management under DCAM will help save money and improve property maintenance services.  This shared services approach will result in a number of benefits to Commonwealth employees and the public, including:

  • Implementation of modern maintenance standards and practices;
  • Improved reliability at specialized facilities such as hospitals and data centers;
  • Cost savings through leveraged procurement of goods and services (i.e. bulk purchasing);
  • Greater intra-agency coordination with shared equipment resources, optimal facility utilization, property surplus and leasing functions;
  • Increased responsiveness through use of in-house maintenance personnel across agencies; and
  • Strategic use of technology and data to prioritize facility maintenance needs and to better target limited resources to curb the growth of deferred maintenance costs through auditing and universal use of the Commonwealth’s Capital Asset Management Information System (CAMIS). 

Bureau of the State House

Since 1798, the Massachusetts State House has been the seat of the Commonwealth’s government.  Recognizing the unique role the State House plays as both the host of many public events and as traditional office space, a new agency entitled the Bureau of the State House will be created in the FY 2013 budget.  Emerging from the former Bureau of State Office Buildings (BSB), the Bureau of the State House will be dedicated to the occupants and visitors of the Massachusetts State House.  With this renewed attention, the State House will be in a position to have a committed workforce with a strong focus on the distinct needs of this historic building. 

Commonwealth Facilities Advisory Council

The Commonwealth Facilities Advisory Council (CFAC) is a team of experts on facility management issues charged with guiding DCAM through its ongoing restructuring.  Made up of approximately 50 individuals from the private and public sectors, CFAC convenes monthly to discuss and plan for the major issues of facilities management reform.  The Office of Employee Relations, public and private higher education, labor unions and private business all have representation on CFAC.  The members of CFAC have been instrumental in identifying current inefficiencies and defining client needs.  Moving forward, sub-committees will be organized to further enhance member focus on targeted subjects.

Energy Investments

Signed by Governor Patrick in 2007, Executive Order 484 Leading by Example – Clean Energy and Efficient Buildings sets a target across state-owned buildings for clean energy practices that reduce environmental impacts and create cost savings.  This Executive Order requires state facilities to reduce their overall energy usage by 20% by 2012 and by 35% by 2020, as well as to accomplish major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and potable water usage. 

Since 2007, DCAM has invested in energy improvement projects at nearly 30% of all Commonwealth facilities and has completed energy and water projects for over 21 million square feet of space.  These efforts have not gone unnoticed, as the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy ranked Massachusetts first in the nation for energy efficiency in 2011.  Additional energy projects are underway at approximately 19 million square feet of space, while plans for an additional 35 million square feet of space remain under development. 

Going forward, the Administration has developed a plan for implementing the Commonwealth Accelerated Energy Program.  DCAM will implement quick fix energy conservation measures and ensure that larger, more complex projects are completed within three years.  This plan includes initiatives that will focus on the people involved with the program, the process to implement the projects and the development of a robust and transparent tracking and reporting system. 

Elements of the Commonwealth Accelerated Energy Program include:

  • Establishing management committees to develop and promote a clear vision for this important initiative as well as to generate communication plans for outreach, training and employee motivation;
  • Working with internal and external partners, DCAM is establishing a centralized location for all data collection, installing additional meters at all locations, streamlining the procurement process, maximizing available external funding opportunities and creating jobs; and
  • Utilizing funds from the Clean Energy Investment Program (CEIP) to expand energy efficiency and renewable energy projects at dozens of state buildings, saving the Commonwealth millions of dollars in energy costs annually while creating jobs and supporting the Patrick-Murray Administration's clean energy goals.  These investments pay for themselves as they cut energy waste, reduce operating costs, cut greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen Massachusetts’ economy. 

Prepared by the Executive Office for Administration and Finance ·
www.mass.gov/budget/governor
For more information email: contactanf@massmail.state.ma.us (617) 727-2040



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