On Thursday, the non-partisan Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) released their report on Minnesota’s gainsharing program. The OLA concluded that “The Minnesota Department of Management and Budget (MMB) has not implemented a ‘gainsharing’ program that has been required in Minnesota law since 2011” and urged MMB to comply with the law and implement a working gainsharing program.
“Today’s OLA report is clear: It’s time for MMB to start following the law to ensure the prudent use of taxpayer dollars,” said Rep. Jim Nash, R-Waconia. “The report sends a strong message to MMB and the Dayton Administration that there needs to be greater accountability for the tax dollars of hardworking Minnesotans. Just because MMB has concerns about this program doesn’t absolve them from following a state law that was signed by Governor Dayton.”
Gainsharing was intended to be an incentive for employees whose work produced documented savings of taxpayer dollars within state agencies.
“Last session, MMB claimed it was impossible to demonstrate savings in any state program, and now we see they developed questionable fiscal notes to try and justify their inaction,” said Rep. Bob Vogel, R-Elko New Market. “The OLA report shows how MMB ignored the 2011 statute and continually refuses to implement a program designed to reward state employees who save Minnesota taxpayers money.”
The full OLA report on gainsharing can be found at https://www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/sreview/gainsharing.pdf.
###