Director's Message

June 9, 2006

To: All DHS employees

From: Bruce Goldberg, DHS Director

We can tell our values by looking at our checkbook stubs. 

---Gloria Steinem

What would you say to DHS if you were invited to answer three questions: 

• Where should additional resources be invested?
• What could we be doing differently or more efficiently?
• Are there things we shouldn't be doing?

With the need for services far outpacing available resources, it is important that we step away from the historical pattern of simply asking for more funding to deliver more of the same services. Rather, we must collaborate with each other, our partners and our clients to determine how we can deliver the right services to the right people in the most effective and efficient ways. That is why, for the second biennium in a row, we took our budget development process to the individuals who help deliver and receive social services.

During May and June we invited our staff, partners, providers, clients and members of the public to share their thoughts in response to these questions, and nearly 400 people throughout Oregon took us up on the offer. The ideas and comments we heard were thoughtful and principled. I was impressed with how much the meetings' participants understood about DHS and with their recognition of the positive difference our programs make in so many people's lives. The participants, by and large, supported our mission and desired to see DHS -- and therefore the people we serve -- succeed.

Our public budget process was developed to support three key priorities -- transparency, accountability and efficiency -- that I believe are essential to good government. By opening our books to the public and discussing options and priorities for funding and delivering services, we create the kind of open and inclusive government that best serves Oregonians.

I very much valued receiving the input of the many diverse individuals who attended our seven meetings, and I value your input as well. That is why I am asking you to answer the same three questions we asked of the public:

• Where should additional resources be invested?
• What could we be doing differently or more efficiently?
• Are there things we shouldn't be doing?

Please take a few minutes to think about these questions and send your thoughts to dhs.budget-input@state.or.us. If you would like a brief overview of the department's budget, you can see the presentation we provided at each of the public meetings at http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/aboutdhs/budget/07-09budget/index.shtml.

We have been through a difficult time this last year, with an unexpected budget shortfall and concerns about whether we could continue providing many of the important programs that make a difference in people's lives. And even though tax revenues appear to be increasing, there always will be less money available than is needed.

Your thoughtful input can help guide budget priorities as we prepare for the 2007-2009 biennium. I encourage you to send me your ideas. It's relatively easy to keep doing more of the same, but it may be smarter to start doing things differently.

To provide feedback email: DHS.Directorsoffice@state.or.us

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This message is intended for all department employees. Please read it electronically, if possible. Managers and supervisors are asked to share the message each week with employees who do not have email access.