State proposes eliminating 31 boards and commissions

Gov. Jay Nixon plans to eliminate 31 statewide boards and commissions, comprising 473 appointed positions, Nixon's office said Friday.

Nixon signed executive orders Friday eliminating 13 board and 227 positions, and he will ask the General Assembly to eliminate an additional 18 boards, comprising 246 positions, that were created by state statute, according to a news release.

The decision is based on recommendations from Missouri Commissioner of Administration Kelvin Simmons, in an effort to reduce waste and redundancy and save taxpayer money.

The proposal includes eliminating boards that have completed their work or don't meet anymore and combining existing boards and commissions with others that cover similar topics.

"Missouri government must continue to tighten its belt," Nixon said in the release. "Eliminating ineffective or redundant state boards will give Missourians a government that's more efficient, accountable and responsive. Many state boards do excellent work and will continue to do so, but we must continue to root out waste, inefficiency and redundancy wherever they exist in government."

State legislation will be sponsored by Sen. Delbert Scott, R-Lowry City, in the Senate, with a similar bill to be co-sponsored by Rep. Steve Hobbs, R-Mexico and Rep. J.C. Kuessner, D-Eminence.

The complete list of boards and commissions that could be eliminated is available at the link below.