Before there was a federal Department of Government Efficiency, the state of Nebraska implemented a similar program as a result of a bill introduced by then-state Sen. Tom Briese of Albion.
In 2023, a bill he introduced in the Unicameral was passed and signed into law by Gov. Jim Pillen requiring the state to hire an outside independent firm to conduct an efficiency review of state government. The review, conducted by a Utah-based consulting firm, applies to all state government agencies.
Briese, who now serves as state treasurer, is seeing the results of that legislative measure in touting a recent report on the state’s efficiency efforts. It has highlighted areas where the state could find hundreds of millions of dollars in savings.
During a recent interview with Norfolk radio station WJAG and the Daily News, Briese said, “That phase one report suggested about $531 million in potential savings by the end of fiscal year 2025.”
A second-phase report is in the works, which likely will include recommendations of even more savings.
Even though his office is not affected by the review, Briese said he is taking steps to make the treasurer’s office more efficient.
“We reviewed all of our contracts and eliminated some of them,” he said. “We reviewed all of our facilities, and we closed one facility; the Omaha office location wasn’t paying its way, we felt, so we closed that.”
Briese also sounded off on the budget process for the next two-year biennium budget being debated in Lincoln by state senators. It’s a big challenge for lawmakers, given the projected $289 million budget shortfall, he said.
It’s important for lawmakers to look beyond the projected numbers to get a better view of the state’s financial picture, he said. One thing lawmakers don’t want to do is have to tap into the state’s reserves, he said.
During the interview, Briese was asked about recent criticism from state Sen. Rob Dover of Norfolk over proposed cuts to economic development and tourism programs. Dover questions why such programs — which he said are one of the few ways for the state to generate income — are being targeted for cuts.
Briese said that while he trusts Dover’s judgment on the matter, the state has to make sure it gets its bang for its buck in such investments.
“Sometimes when we’re talking about incentivizing development and incentivizing growth, we’re not really incentivizing things,” Briese said. “Instead, we’re providing a handout to developers or entities that would invest in these facilities regardless.”
The only real way for the state to deal with the fiscal challenges faced by lawmakers is to cut spending, he said.