Culver signs efficiency plan cutting $128 million

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Chet Culver has signed an executive order aimed at squeezing nearly $128 million out of state spending.

Culver signed the order Wednesday at the end of a meeting of editors and reporters organized by The Associated Press.

At the gathering, Culver called for lawmakers to approve proposed early retirement incentives and indicated he thought the Legislature would close one of the state's four mental health institutions.

The executive order signed by Culver implements a consultant's report that urged the state to enact a number of efficiencies. The governors says he's moving ahead with most of the recommendations but that a few can't be fully implemented.

Many of the efficiencies come through consolidating computer systems and using a centralized purchasing system.

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