Will Senate ax money-saving program??

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As everyone anticipated, the two-year operating budget plan offered by the Senate this week has plenty of cuts. That’s expected since the Legislature has to fix a $5 billion-plus budget deficit. But one cut in the Senate spending plan that raised eyebrows was the elimination of a small program that pays big dividends in saving tax dollars. It’s called the state Productivity Board, which is part of the Office of Secretary of State’s Special Programs Division. Since its creation in 1982, the Productivity Board’s two incentive programs, the Teamwork Incentive Program and the Employee Suggestion Program, have resulted in nearly $60 million in savings from more than 28,000 employees. There has been $9.48 in savings for every dollar spent by the program. The Senate Ways and Means Committee is expected to vote on the Senate operating budget Friday.