EXECUTIVE ORDER B-17-12
WHEREAS my 2012-13 budget proposes to close the State’s structural budget deficit, in part by maintaining a reduction of $426.5 million ($269 million General Fund) that was included in last year’s budget, and by requiring further reductions in operational expenses and further improvements in operational efficiencies; and
WHEREAS since the beginning of my Administration, I have issued Executive Orders and other directives to reduce government waste and improve efficiency; and
WHEREAS I believe we can do even more; and
WHEREAS State agencies and departments are parties in approximately 2,344 leases covering more than 22 million square feet of real estate, with 9.8 million square feet of real estate in Sacramento County alone; and
WHEREAS the State leases 191 warehouses totaling more than 2.6 million square feet; and
WHEREAS Government Code section 14682 requires that State agencies first consider using existing state-owned, state-leased, or state-controlled facilities before leasing additional facilities on behalf of a State agency; and
WHEREAS State agencies and departments pay over $471 million in rent annually; and
WHEREAS the Department of General Services has already renegotiated nearly 310 leases, which has resulted in rental savings of nearly $137 million; and
WHEREAS we can take additional measures to reduce real estate leasing costs.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, EDMUND G. BROWN JR., Governor of the State of California, do hereby issue the following orders to become effective immediately:
IT IS ORDERED that the Department of General Services continue to renegotiate State leases and keep rental costs as low as possible.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that State agencies and departments work with the Department of General Services to review whether leased space is essential and necessary and whether consolidations and better practices can reduce the amount of square footage leased.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that if there are no available, appropriate State facilities, the Department of General Services procure approved new facilities for the agency that meet the agency’s needs using cost efficiency as a primary criterion, among other agency-specific criteria.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that agencies and departments work with the Department of General Services to examine opportunities to eliminate or reduce warehouse space.
This Executive Order is not intended to create, and does not create, any rights or benefits, whether substantive or procedural, or enforceable at law or in equity, against the State of California or its agencies, departments, entities, officers, employees, or any other person.
I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this Order shall be filed with the Office of the Secretary of State and that it be given widespread publicity and notice.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 25th day of April 2012.
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EDMUND G. BROWN JR.
Governor of California
ATTEST:
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DEBRA BOWEN
Secretary of State