INDIANAPOLIS (May 8, 2008) - Governor Mitch Daniels today presented the fourth round of Governor's Public Service Achievement Awards to 64 state employees representing 12 agencies.

"Services have been streamlined, millions of tax dollars have been saved, and efficiency has improved in many places because of talented state employees who are proving they can compete with anyone," said Daniels. "Those who deliver measurably better results for taxpayers deserve better recognition and tangible rewards."

Some of the accomplishments being rewarded include:

A team of employees from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles call center dramatically reduced customer call holding times and the number of abandoned calls.
Two employees from the Department of Workforce Development set up a temporary Vincennes WorkOne field office in less than 48 hours after the office was destroyed by a weekend fire.
An employee from the Department of Administration has helped save the state more than $2 million since January 2007 through negotiating state contracts that historically had not been negotiated.
An employee from the Department of Insurance helped the state collect more than $406,000 in back child support owed by insurance or bail agents licensed in Indiana.
A Department of Correction employee assisted in the identification of more than 1,000 Indiana offenders who have escaped justice since 1950.
A team of employees from the Public Employees' Retirement Fund made significant improvements in customer service including reducing by more than half the average number of days it takes to receive a retirement check.

The governor created the Public Service Achievement Award in December 2005. State agencies submit nominations of individuals or teams for review and recommendation to the governor. Teams receive up to $5,000 to be divided among team members while individual award winners receive a medal and $1,000. In 2007, awards were presented to 47 state employees.

A list of award recipients and their accomplishments is available at: http://www.in.gov/gov/uploads/2008_Program_final.pdf.

Information on previous award winners is available here: http://www.in.gov/spd/2438.htm.

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64 state employees receive Public Service Achievement Awards