OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gregoire on Tuesday announced a plan that would consolidate several state agencies and eliminate three dozen boards and commissions, a move she says will save the state nearly $30 million over the next two years.
Gregoire said her proposal would reduce the number of state agencies from 21 to nine, saving the state $22 million.
The announcement is part of a multi-day rollout of her two-year budget, set to be formally announced Wednesday. On Monday, Gregoire announced proposals to the state pension system and health care costs as part of her effort to address a projected $5 billion deficit for the next two-year budget.
Under the plan, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the State Parks and Recreation Commission, the Recreation and Conservation Office and the law enforcement unit of the Department of Natural Resources would be consolidated into a new Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Gregoire also wants to create an Office of Civil Rights, which would encompass the consolidation of the state’s Human Rights Commission, Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprise, Commission on African Affairs, Commission on Hispanic Affairs and Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs.
Other areas that would be consolidated under Gregoire’s proposal:
•The work of the Columbia River Gorge Commission, the Pollution Liability Insurance Agency and the Department of Health’s reclaimed water program moves to the Department of Ecology.
•The state Conservation Commission is merged into the Department of Agriculture.
•The Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation is consolidated into the Department of Natural Resources.
•The Departments of General Administration, Personnel, Printing, and portions of the Department of Information Services and the Office of Financial Management would merge into a new Department of Enterprise Services.
Gregoire said that about 125 state jobs will be cut as a result, many of which would be seen as duplicates under the consolidation.
Gregoire said she also wants to eliminate more boards and commissions. More than 140 of the state’s boards and commissions were either eliminated or consolidated in past years. The move to eliminate an additional 36 would save the state an estimated $7.4 million, Gregoire’s office said.
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