MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri's Office of Administration will experience changes under Gov.-elect Matt Blunt's administration with two key appointments and a proposed consolidation of the state's information technology systems.
Blunt said he planned to consolidate all the state agency information technology departments into one under the Office of Administration.
"Today virtually every department in the state government has at least one information technology division," said Blunt. "What I call for doing is consolidating all of that into one department as quickly as possible."
Blunt appointed Senate Administrator Michael Keathley as the commissioner of the Office of Administration and Deputy Secretary of State Dan Ross as chief information officer.
A focal point of Blunt's appointments was Ross's new position as chief information officer, a job that will be at the forefront of the state's computer system consolidation.
"Dan is going to serve in positions that are currently occupied by two people," said Blunt. "He will be the director of information services within the Office of Administration and then also by executive order will be the chief information officer for state government."
Merging the two positions will save Missouri taxpayers $100,000 each year, Blunt said.
When Ross assumes the office as chief information officer he will be at the center of the consolidation effort.
"My model might be the office of the secretary of state, where we came in, found antiquated systems and replaced them with cost effective new systems and have done that at a tremendous cost saving," Ross said.
Getting Missouri's information out to Missourians can't be achieved very effeciently the way it is with separate networks, said Ross. He added that many agencies in state government can't provide information in a format for Missouri's disabled population.
Keathley, former CEO at IXL Industries, the world's largest manafacturer of tool handles, has worked in the Senate since 2002. For the past three years as Senate administrator, Keathley said he cut the office's budget 15 percent.
While he would not provide any specifics, he said he saw many questionable items in the Office of Administration budget.
The Office of Administration operates central management functions of state government such as personnel, information services and facilities management.
Computer system consolidation in agencies with directors appointed by the governor will occur more rapidly, said Blunt. He said he will propose the efficiency measures to the General Assembly when he officially takes office.
"I think at some point there will be a need for legislative action," said Blunt. "Especially when you are dealing with those agencies that the governor doesn't appoint the director."