Scrutinize every office for possible elimination

The current state treasurer isn't running for re-election, but says the job is too important to eliminate it.

That's what State Sen. Dennis Utter of Hastings aims to do with LR284CA, up for Legislative debate today. If passed, the proposal would go to a statewide vote, and if that passed, the office would be gone in 2013.

According to State Treasurer Shane Osborn's Web site, his office comprises five divisions -- Treasury Management, Unclaimed Property, the Nebraska College Savings Program, the Nebraska Child Support Payment Center and the Nebraska Long-Term Care Savings Plan. The Treasury Management Division is responsible for receipting in all monies from state government -- from taxes to tuition payments.

According to the site:

The Unclaimed Property Division is responsible for returning money, stocks, bonds, dividends, utility deposits, vendor payments, gift certificates and insurance proceeds of any type to the rightful owners.

The Nebraska College Savings Program is a nationally distributed 529 plan that helps parents and grandparents save for a loved one's education.

The Child Support Payment Center is responsible for the centralized receipting and disbursement of child support and related court-ordered payments.

The Nebraska Long-Term Care Savings Plan is a Nebraska-based plan providing State tax deductions and tax free withdrawals for expenses and insurance premiums depending upon age and circumstance.

Sen. Utter says his measure will save the state money, by shifting those duties to other state agencies.

In his weekly column printed elsewhere on this page, State Sen. Mark Christensen worries about too much consolidation of power, and doubts the change will generate as much savings as advertised.

For his part, State Treasurer Shane Osborn didn't do his argument any favors by continuing private employment with an Omaha insurance brokerage after he became treasurer. Although we defended his right to do so, the situation generated a bill, which failed to advance, to prohibit the state's six constitutional officers from holding outside jobs.

The state treasurer's salary of $85,000 is certainly a living wage, but still low enough to make moonlighting an attractive activity.

Nebraska taxpayers certainly need to know that the money they pay is going where it is supposed to with a minimal amount of waste.

Should the state treasurer's office be eliminated altogether? We don't know. But every office of government, from the school board and City Council, up to the federal executive branch in Washington D.C. should be re-examined on a regular basis to determine whether or not it is still relevant in the 21st century.