GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6 of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto Senate Bill 584, which establishes the General Services Board.

The proposed bill would potentially hinder the efficiency and effectiveness of the Department of General Services (DGS) and lacks clarity and foresight on the likely negative effect. The lack of clarity is particularly evident in the oversight of delegations of authority to the DGS Director, creating uncertainty about the extent of the Director's powers and potentially impeding effective agency management.

My administration has been dedicated to improving government operations for Virginians from the outset. Urgent concerns included the prolonged deferred maintenance of state buildings. This necessitated expedited office space and telecommunications infrastructure improvement. Operational upgrades increased telecommunications bandwidth by 75% in approximately one thousand office buildings, enhancing efficiency.

By consolidating distribution centers, reducing over one thousand excess state vehicles, enhancing our electronic procurement filing system, and assessing underutilized real estate for economic development, we have benefited the Commonwealth and taxpayers. This long overdue business-like approach aims to improve the workplace, benefit employees, promote efficiency, and benefit taxpayers.

In light of these accomplishments, we will continue to work with members of the General Assembly to consider evolving real estate and procurement functions from focusing on individual transactions to a more comprehensive plan that promotes continuous improvement. This collaborative effort will highlight the tangible and intangible savings achieved through these initiatives and demonstrate their potential to bring about transformative change.

Under the proposal, however, the ability of a citizen board to implement policy, deliver critical services that demand daily interaction with customers, law enforcement, vendors, and other stakeholders and provide oversight of a large, complex organization of employees, contractors, and suppliers could hinder the agency's capacity to deliver high-quality services to all branches of government, including the General Assembly.

The infrequency of board meetings poses a significant risk to the timely execution of agency functions. Such limited meeting frequency may lead to delays in decision-making processes, even jeopardizing health and safety considerations. Given DGS's pivotal role in providing vital support services to all state agencies, these delays could severely impact government operations' overall efficiency.

There are also challenges associated with recruiting and retaining qualified board members, which are crucial for informed decision-making in DGS's complex operations. Given the agency's intricate functions, board members must possess the requisite expertise and availability to fulfill their responsibilities effectively.

Furthermore, the constraints placed on statewide strategic decision-making severely impede our ability to implement cohesive policies across state agencies. This limitation not only undermines the effectiveness of government initiatives but can potentially escalate costs for Virginians.

The proposal’s lack of clarity, potential for operational delays, and constraints on strategic decision-making warrant careful reconsideration and revision to ensure that it aligns with the objectives of promoting efficient government operations and service delivery.

Accordingly, I veto the bill.