Governor Takes Axe to Legacy of Cellphone Waste

Susana Martinez

SANTA FE – Governor Susana Martinez announced today that her administration has significantly reduced cell phone, BlackBerry, and air card use, resulting in over $320,000 in projected savings over calendar year 2011. The administration has reduced the number of wireless devices in agencies and departments throughout state government by a net total of 500 from December 2010 to September 2011. These administration-wide reductions, along with a more efficient approach to pooling wireless plans, are projected to total $320,412 in savings by the end of 2011.  “This is a simple and common-sense way to save hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars without affecting the necessary functions of state government,” said Governor Martinez. “Not every state employee requires a cell phone to fulfill the duties of his or her job. Reducing cell phone expenses is part of an ongoing effort to cut unnecessary expenses in New Mexico’s budget and make government more efficient.”

Savings include a net reduction of 59 devices in the Children, Youth, and Families Department, 52 devices in the Department of Transportation, 116 devices in the Human Services Department, 54 devices in the Corrections Department, 28 devices in the Regulation and Licensing Department, and 15 devices at the Higher Education Department.

“We have worked closely with Governor Martinez to identify unnecessary costs and ensure the efficient use of taxpayer dollars,” added Darryl Ackley, Secretary of the Department of Information Technology. “These simple and practical cost-saving measures will trim over $300,000 from the state’s budget.” The announcement of reduced cell phone use comes one week after the Martinez administration announced over $800,000 in savings due to lease re-negotiation and consolidation of state government office facilities. The number of state government vehicles has also been significantly reduced, with the state cutting its fleet by 253 since January, including a 56% reduction in take-home vehicles at the Department of Transportation. The moratorium that Governor Martinez placed on new vehicle purchases, with the exception of law enforcement vehicles, remains in place.

Governor Takes Axe to Legacy of Cellphone Waste