The controversial $5 Million contract given to an “Efficiency Expert” hired by
the Jindal Administration to find money-saving ideas for state government has
proven to be not very efficient themselves.
Monday, Kristy Nichols, Governor Jindal’s chief budget
advisor, said that the company, Alvarez & Marsal, wouldn’t complete its
review of government operations until the end of May. Their report was due in mid-April.
Alvarez & Marsal was given a $5 Million contract by the
Jindal Administration and tasked with finding $500 Million in savings and inefficiencies.
To date, Nichols said that the company had found more than $70 Million in
savings.
No wonder they need more time.
When the contract was given to Alvarez & Marsal, many
lawmakers questioned the deal and added stipulations to the contract to ensure
that the company’s recommendations were realistic and attainable and pegged the
projected savings at $500 Million. The original contract with the Jindal
Administration was open-ended and without a defined target.
