Gov. M. Jodi Rell said today she is canceling or paring back state contracts for everything from magazine subscriptions and office furniture to new vehicles and auto detailing to save taxpayers more than $21.3 million this fiscal year.
Rell said she ordered all state agencies to review their contracts and recommend terminating any that could not be considered vital.
In addition, she said the state is working to renegotiate or rebid almost $1.8 billion in contracts reached through the Department of Administrative Services, the state’s procurement arm, and a further $31.5 million in contracts for the Department of Information Technology.
Even a 1 percent savings on these agreements could net Connecticut taxpayers a savings of $18.1 million, she said.
“We are doing what any family would do in similar circumstances,” Rell said. “Expenses like club memberships, vacations and new cars would be cut. Groceries would be pared back to the basics – more hot dogs, less steak. Thermostats would be set a little lower and car trips combined to save gasoline. State government must do the same.”
On her shopping list of items to be pared or eliminated:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
- Passenger cars, saving $5,149,897
- Digital postage equipment, supplies and services, saving $1,065,327
- Promotional products, saving $381,834
- Uniforms (other than contractually required), saving $259,259
- Athletic equipment (not including playground equipment), saving $304,300
- Office furniture, metal, wood, chairs (non-systems furniture), saving $1,247,393
- Systems furniture, freestanding partitions, technical computer furniture, saving $933,516
- Classroom/school furniture, saving $347,466
- Rental and pre-owned office furniture, saving $255,765
- Car wash and detail service, saving $14,210
- Purchase, repair and maintenance of musical instruments, saving $57,707
- Outside legal services for underground storage tank cleanup, saving $39,583
- Magazine subscriptions, saving $40,248
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