THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
STEVEN A. McCALEB
103 ALVERADO DRIVE
LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI 39560
PHONE & FAX: (228)-868-8428
E-MAIL: mccaleb5thdist@aol.com
WEB SITE: www.mississippiwebsite.com
Since the
taxpayers and voters are paying for the privilege of letting our elected
officials and
State Agencies have cell phones.
I would
like to obtain copies of all calls made by our representatives and state
agencies employees
to make sure the taxpayers cell phones are being used for official use only.
It is
known throughout Mississippi that our elected officials and state agency
employees believe they own everything the taxpayers provide for them.
Like the
Harrison County Supervisors using taxpayers automobiles for private use.
Having
two sets of books in order to divide the $1 million dollar slush fund.
By
purchasing very expensive vehicle in order to perform there jobs, when a less
expensive vehicle would accomplish the same job.
REMEMBER:
MONEY, POWER & PERKS + FRAUD, WASTE, & ABUSE = CORRUPTION
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Friday, August 18, 2006
JACKSON - Mississippi's state agencies spend much more for cellular phone service than neighboring states and use too many service providers, a legislative watchdog panel says.
Cell phone costs average 22 cents a minute for state agencies in Mississippi, highest among all of its neighbors. The 81 agencies in the report use 459 different cellular agreements for 3,441 cell phones, the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review said Wednesday in a report.
Mississippi's 459 call plans are spread among nine vendors, contributing to an inefficient system with few oversight controls, PEER says.
Arkansas' average cost is 11 cents a minute, with one statewide plan from one vendor. Alabama's average cost is 10 cents a minute, with 10 call plans from three vendors, the report said. The border state with the highest cost is Louisiana, with 167 plans at 17 cents a minute.
"The large number of service plans available to agency users creates an environment wherein efficient procurement may not be promoted," the report said.
The report concluded that the Legislature should require the Department of Information Technology Services, or ITS, to establish general policies for state agencies on cell phone procurement and use.
ITS should also establish a limited number of vendors, PEER said.
"We're behind the curve in use and procurement standards," said Max Arinder, PEER's executive director. "We're using them without having well-thought-out guidelines."
ITS Director David Litchliter said Mississippi is paying more than other states because until recently one provider didn't cover the whole state. He also said state employees may be using old calling plans, which are more expensive than current prices.
By updating plans and consolidating service, Mississippi could substantially cut costs, Cellular South spokeswoman Jana Long said.
"If the state of Mississippi approached Cellular South to be their provider of choice, we could offer them a rate substantially lower than 22 cents a minute," Long said.
Cellular South provides 31 percent of the state's service. Cingular is the largest provider at 49 percent.
The state has paid $1.9 million so far this year for cellular services. The state paid $2 million last year. Of 81 agencies that use cell phones, only 29 reported having formal use policies.
Litchliter said ITS is working on narrowing the number of vendors to two or three to get more competitive rates. ITS will meet with vendors in the next month or two to review plans, he said.
The PEER Committee originally investigated cell phone use as part of a legislative assistance request from a state legislator, Arinder said. The committee then decided to write a more thorough report.
Agencies reported 231 phones, the report said, that were not listed on an inventory, believing that because the phone was included free in a negotiated service package, that it was not state property.
The report said that inaccurate records prohibit the tracking of these cell phones, thus they could be misused or misappropriated.
The Department of Health had 66 phones that weren't inventoried. The Department of Transportation had 19 and the Department of Public Safety had 18.
STEVEN A. McCALEB
COMMENTARY
MY OPINION