Governor Corbett Forms Advisory Council on Privatization and Innovation

Panel to Focus on Most Efficient, Cost-Effective Ways to Deliver State Services

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As promised in his budget address, Governor Tom Corbett today announced he has created a new Governor's Advisory Council on Privatization and Innovation to explore if any functions now performed by state government might be better and more cost-effectively performed by the private sector.

"We have an obligation to taxpayers to find new and innovative ways to make government more efficient," Governor Corbett said. "This panel will further evaluate potential privatization, public-private partnerships or managed-competition opportunities with the ultimate goal of streamlining government and saving taxpayers' dollars."

Council members will help the commonwealth conduct a thorough examination of state government functions and services to determine whether the state is providing the most cost-efficient and transparent government that taxpayers deserve.

The council's mission is to use innovation to achieve a combination of quality, cost savings, expertise and effectiveness. It will also examine roadblocks to sensible privatization, drawing on the experiences of past privatization efforts.

"Many people may not recognize it, but privatization has been successful in government for many years. From snow removal services to social services, private job-creators have been doing work that government bodies simply could not do without an increased cost to taxpayers and a drop in efficiencies," Corbett said. "Too often, debates over privatization fail to recognize this simple fact – it's already working to the benefit of taxpayers."

Government entities all across the U.S. have come to rely on and trust the services and networks delivered by public, private and nonprofit organizations. Pennsylvania needs to evaluate where it can provide better services to the citizens at an efficient cost, Corbett added.

Council members serve in a voluntary, uncompensated capacity. The council will work continuously, meaning it will not sunset.

Media contact:  Kevin Harley, 717-783-1116

Editor's Note: A list of council members follows.

Robert B. Asher, Gwynedd Valley

John A. Barbour (chair), Mars

Matthew J. Brouillette, Hershey

Peter N. Calcara, Mechanicsburg

Jerome Cochran, Pittsburgh

Laura E. Ellsworth, Sewickley

Gerald E. Feldman, Bradford Woods

Varsovia Fernandez, Ardmore

Charlie Gerow, Mechanicsburg

William P. Hankowsky, Philadelphia

Mark Hanna, Venetia

Melissa A. Hart, Bradford Woods

Raymond W. Hoover, Camp Hill

Richard G. Jewell, Grove City

James E. McErlane, Malvern

J. Paul McMillen, Camp Hill

John D. Moran Jr., Lewisburg

Jonathan H. Newman, Bryn Mawr

James C. Roddey, Oakmont

Sue Schick, Merion Station

Andrew J. Sordoni III, Forty Fort

Robert S. Walker, Lititz

Joseph P. Watkins, Philadelphia

Dennis Yablonsky, Presto

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor