Randy Cowling, managing editor
Monday, Feb. 1, 2010 — Despite a call for coming together to address Oklahoma's $1 billion budget shortfall, Gov. Brad Henry has sent a shock wave through three of Rogers County‚Äôs historic sites by recommended a massive consolidation of agencies to improve efficiencies and reduce overall costs.
In a summary of Henry's State of the State Address, the governor has recommended the Will Rogers Museum and J. M. Davis Gun Museum in Claremore and the Dog Iron Ranch in Oologah be consolidated into the Oklahoma Historical Society. Henry delivered his final State of the State Address on Monday.
"Oklahoma has 180 state agencies, some of which have overlapping missions, responsibilities and duties. These overlapping responsibilities can lead to unclear lines of authority which limits accountability, decreases efficiency and increases the cost of government," according to the State of State address summary.
"The Historical Society is a fine organization," said Steve Gragert, Will Rogers Memorial Museum's executive director, "but we are a fiscally responsible, highly efficient agency. We have realized exceptional savings already in our operations and have a lean, professional, and competent staff."
The Governor's budget purports to save $5.3 million from agency consolidations.
Wayne McCombs, J. M. Davis Gun Museum executive director, said this has been tried before during Gov. Frank Keating's tenure.
Statutes which were approved by the legislators and signed into law prevented it then, McCombs said.
"I am sure Gov. Henry is doing the best he can to hold things down. We're going to have to work together with everybody. We'll come out of this a museum that everyone will want to come see," he said.
Jim Hartz, chairman of the Will Rogers Memorial Commission, and former host of Today on NBC said, "We ask the governor and legislature to consider carefully the singular, national impact the Will Rogers Memorial has made since it was created by the State of Oklahoma 71 years ago on land that was a gift from Will Rogers' widow and paid for by the people of Oklahoma to honor their most famous hero."ù
Our focus is on a national icon of great Oklahoma and Cherokee renown,"ù Gragert said.
"Any tampering with this institution puts in jeopardy not only millions of dollars in tourist spending, but the education of the youth of our state,"ù Hartz warned.
Gragert noted that attendance for 2009 was the highest in eight years.
Among the agencies which Henry wants combined are
ï Aeronautics Commission, Indian Affairs, OCAST and ODSIDA into the to Department of Commerce
ï Department of Environmental Quality into the Oklahoma Water Resources Board
ï Department of Mines into the Department of Labor
ï Conversation Commission into the Department of Agriculture
ï OBNDD and Medicolegal into OSBI
ï CLEET, Emergency Management and ABLE into the Department of Public Safety
ï EBC and Merit Protection Commissions into OPM.
"Agency consolidation can lead to increased efficiency at a lower cost to the taxpayers by reducing administrative and overhead costs. By consolidating agencies and using a shared services methodology, agencies can focus on their core competencies by allowing other agencies or personnel to handle administrative functions such as human resources, payroll, financial functions and information technology duties,"ù according to the summary. "These consolidated agencies will also provide a one-stop shop for many of the governmental services accessed by Oklahomans. By integrating programs in consolidated agencies, Oklahomans will be able to receive more comprehensive services from a single entity instead of fragmented services from multiple agencies. These agencies will now be prepared to handle the challenges facing Oklahoma in a more streamlined and effective manner."ù
