Interim Committee to Look for Ways to Make Local Government Entities More Effective and Efficient

Jefferson City, MO - An interim House committee formed last month will take a closer look at how county and city governments work with the goal of improving their level of efficiency and effectiveness.  State Rep. Sue Allen, R-Town and Country, was named to chair the Interim Committee on Local Governance Issues.  Speaker Pro-Tem Shane Schoeller, R-Willard, called her the ideal choice to make sense of the oftentimes confusing layers of local government entities.

"We've done a great deal to improve the level of efficiency that exists within state government and it is important we take proven standards that we've put in place for our state and apply them successfully to our local government entities," said Schoeller.  "Sue Allen has the knowledge and leadership skills to navigate the varying local government structures in our state to find areas where duplicative services can be consolidated and more efficient methods can be adopted to protect taxpayers from needless bureaucratic waste and ensure their hard earned tax dollars are used in the most effective way possible."

Allen has led the way to ensure additional levels of accountability on the state level.  During the 2012 legislative session she sponsored HB 1051 to create a comparative audit system that would help improve the level of efficiency of state agencies by identifying and emulating the best practices of other agencies.  Allen said she believe her experience dealing with state-level issues will translate well in her work to help local government entities to become more efficient.

"This is a great opportunity to work with our public servant on the local level to find areas where counties and cities can work together to optimize the services they provide to Missourians," said Allen.  "I look forward to working with the members of my committee to address some of the challenges faced by our municipalities and to develop substantive policy solutions that will change the way our city and county governments operate for the better."

Allen said the committee will hold a series of hearings around the state to gather public input on the issue.  She plans to announce the first hearing in the coming days.

State Rep. Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, will serve as vice chairman of the committee.  Other members include: Reps. Lyndall Fraker, R-Marshfield; Chuck Gatschenberger, R-Lake St. Louis; Caleb Jones, R-California; Bill Lant, R-Joplin; Donna Lichtenegger, R-Jackson; Rick Stream, R-Kirkwood; Michelle Kratky, D-St. Louis; Mike Colona, D-St. Louis; Steve Webb, D-Florissant; and Chris Carter, D-St. Louis.