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Report Contends Florida Could Save $2 Billion With Simple Changes
December 26, 2016
More than $2 billion could be saved each year if the state would spend taxpayer money more prudently, according to a report from the Florida Government Efficiency Task Force.
The 15-member panel, created by a 2006 constitutional amendment, outlined some of its recommendations during a news conference in Tallahassee. The recommendations will go to Gov. Rick Scott and lawmakers, who will draw up a new budget in the coming months.
The recommendations include calling for changes in the corrections and criminal-justice system, such as releasing non-violent elderly inmates earlier, giving judges more flexibility in sentencing decisions and increasing access to work-release programs.
“We’re trying to say, ‘Look, let’s make sure that the sentence fits the crime and that it will actually be beneficial to the victims,” said Florida TaxWatch President Dominic Calabro, a member of the task force. “We’ve discovered that a lot of our prisons are nothing short of crime colleges.”
The task force also recommended moves such as consolidating state agencies into fewer physical locations, while sharing things such as vehicles between departments. The group also recommended requiring new public employees to join a 401(k)-style retirement plan like at many private companies, rather than enrolling in the traditional state pension system.
by The News Service of Florida
Comments
7 Responses to “Report Contends Florida Could Save $2 Billion With Simple Changes”
A crime should only be punishable with prison time if there is an actual victim. “Crimes” of possession are victimless, the user is the real victim. We are locking up drug addicts with real violent criminals at alarming rates and at tremendous expense.
End tbe drug war. Make drug abuse a health issue, not a crime.
Legalize Marijuana for recreational use and tax the stew out of it like we do with alcohol and tobacco. Look at Colorado and the increases in their tax revenue. We can release non-violent pot offended from jail and free up Law Enforcements from using resources for this prohibition.
We could do a lot with the tax revenue from education to health care to include long term rehab programs for people with addiction problems who need a lot of help.
“Crime colleges”? I’d like to see them be real prisons, as in locked away for ever, for the safety of society.
Unfortunately, for them and we taxpayers, the early release of “non-violent elderly inmates” needs to take into consideration the Health Care which has been provided at taxpayer expense.
Many of the persons in prisons and jails throughout Florida and the USA are in need of constant medical attention or supervision due to the many ailments which also plague we good law abiding “elderly” citizens.
So, the question of early release must include how will these elderly prisoners be cared for “on the outside”?
We ALL know what the cost of health care can become.
Everyone except the defense lawyers and others would welcome some changes in minor crime convictions, Everything being equal, many do not take the opportunity of a second chance to change behavior or habits,
Waste, fraud and corruption in all levels of government cost those that fund such (taxpayers) billions. This would be a welcomed approach to helping those that pay for the nefarious activities dealing with waste of money.
Turning elderly prisoners out on the street and doing away with state retirement. What happens to these prisoners when they are released? So they magically get jobs and start to live the American Dream? Looks good on paper for your non profit organization, and 501C tax evasive rip off systems like Tax Watch. How about doing away with tax paid defense lawyers sucking the dollars to keep murdering criminals in appeals?
This sounds like a great idea. I hope the governor will follow through and do the right thing.