Texas Comptroller Susan Combs continues to do right by taxpayers in supporting strong, pro-taxpayer efforts that increase transparency and efficiency. Her office this week unveiled “Open Book Texas” that seeks to do even more by consolidating bulk-purchasing while giving local governments access to transparency tools. Sounds really wonkish, but the savings are very real.
On the transparency side, Combs said she can directly identify $4.8 million in her office alone that has been saved thanks directly — this year alone! And an additional $4 million in projected savings. That’s real cash. Now multiply that by every state agency…
Combs is also trying to get local government into the transparency effort. Her office’s new “Texas Transparency Check-Up” website will give local entities information on how to post their financial data online to enhance open government.
Similarly, the bulk-purchasing represents even more possibilities for significant savings. The comptroller expects the project to save taxpayers some $28 million simply by consolidating contracts for services already being used.
“The state of Texas is one of the largest purchasing entities in the nation, and we need to make that leverage work for us,” Combs said in a press release.
From saving $700,000 on mail machines to $9 million in asphalt contracts, Combs and her team are doing right by Texas’ taxpayers in their demand for more accountability by government spenders.
