In its final meeting on Monday, the Iowa DOGE Task Force listed off its accomplishments and recommendations for reducing the cost of government.

Referring to the Department of Government Efficiency, Iowa DOGE is a statewide task force charged with improving government efficiency and maximizing taxpayers’ return on investments. The group will submit a formal report to Gov. Kim Reynolds by Sept. 29.

Emily Schmitt, task force chair and general counsel at Sukup Manufacturing, summed up the task force’s work, saying they spent 167 days of work reviewing state government systems, combing through 5,000 comments from Iowans from all in 99 counties, visiting with countless government departments and workers before ultimately coming up with 45 recommendations that focus on workforce modernization, technology improvements and government efficiencies.

The final report, which will string together the final reports and recommendations from the task force’s subgroups, will need to be worded carefully, Schmitt said.

“Words matter, and they can pull people in, they can uplift people, but they can also push away,” Schmitt said. “As we put together the report from the different subgroups, we’ll take that into consideration and really make sure that the data is there, the citations are, the sources, so that everyone can really see all the work that you all put in, all the other matters and people that contributed.”

Workforce modernization

Reynolds Cramer, CEO of Fareway, described how the workforce modernization group had honest discussions with many Iowans, employers, economic development leaders and higher-education partners. The feedback, combined with a data review of Iowa’s workforce programs and funding, revealed a strong system, he said, but one with fragmentation, outdated structures and unnecessary complexity. Nearly one-third of training dollars in some programs never reach workers or employers, and millions more go unused because of access hurdles.

“For decades, Iowa has maintained many of the same programs, structures and funding models, even as our economy and workforce needs have shifted dramatically,” Cramer said. “The careers that were high in demand when these programs were created are not always the same careers that are driven and driving growth today.”

Streamlining those programs and ending others will help ensure funding is directed to the areas that meet business needs, he said.

Kramer said Iowa must expand workforce and work-based learning and pathways by creating more apprenticeships, internship and pre-apprenticeship opportunities that begin earlier in a worker’s journey, while also giving employers tools to re-skill and up-skill their existing workers.

“These are practical, earn-and-learn models that allow Iowans to build skills while staying connected to the workforce,” he said.

The group also recommended improvements to system coordination and employer engagement.

“The workforce system should not feel like a maze,” Cramer said. “We envision mechanisms like a streamlined red tape hotline to identify and remove barriers and business-led panels that help evaluate programs.”

Investments in facilities, equipment and delivery models for better job training throughout the state was another recommendation of the group.

“We must scale training and program capacity. That means investing in facilities equipment and innovative delivery models like hybrid and short-form credentials, while also tackling the instructor shortage by making it easier for industry professionals to teach,” Cramer said. “We want to keep pace with demand, we have to build the capacity to train more Iowans more quickly and in ways that are accessible to all parts of the state.”

Technology improvements

Adam Keune, executive director of the University of Iowa Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, said the technology improvements subgroup heard consistent themes from Iowans regarding better technology in the state.

“We heard the same themes; support for modernization, curiosity about the potential of [artificial intelligence] and desire for digital services that are easier to use,” he said.

The group also polled state agency leaders about their technology frustrations.

“Their feedback painted a clear picture of where systems remain fragmented, where processes create extra work and where there’s opportunity to improve,” Keune said. “Beyond the survey, we engaged directly with stakeholders like the Iowa State Association of Counties, who helped us understand the challenges and aspirations of local governments. We also heard from state leaders about progress that is already underway, such as consolidation of IT services and centralization of procurement.”

From those conversations, the subgroup learned that Iowa is not starting from scratch when it comes to improving technological resources, but it needs to take steps to improve it.

“Technology is no longer a back office function. It is the heart of how government serves citizens,” Keune said. “Now is the time to harness technology to improve efficiency, to safeguard resources and to make every interaction between citizens and government simpler and more intuitive.

“We also recognize that technology is not static. It is evolving rapidly, and Iowans’ expectations are evolving right alongside it. People are used to seamless digital experiences in their daily lives, and they rightly expect their government to provide the same. This is not about chasing the newest tool for its own sake. It’s about using proven, practical technology to make government more effective, more transparent and more accessible.”

The group focused on areas where improvements would make a measurable impact, including advancing operational process and process efficiency.

“By consolidating platforms, expanding shared services and moving away from requirements like paper signatures and certified mail, we can reduce inefficiencies, save money and free staff time for higher value work,” Keune said. “For example, the state spent more than $10 million on postage last year. Postage spending could be cut by 10%. Just by eliminating outdated legal requirements, it would save more than $1 million.”

Other recommended improvements include:

• Reducing fraud.
• Improving citizen experience with digital government services.
• Improving procurement processes by moving some services to the cloud.
• Improve the technological platforms for cities and counties.
• Creating standards for AI, data governance and reporting.

Taxpayer investment

Terry Lutz, chairman of McClure Engineering, began his remarks by saying the taxpayer investment subgroup never recommended cutting teacher pay or the state’s retirement system, known as IPERS, as some media outlets reported. Instead, the recommendation was to increase teacher pay and invest in classrooms.

The subgroup recommended focusing on workforce skills improvements, by providing professional development and leadership opportunities.

When possible, counties should share resources to reduce duplication, he said. Other potential operational efficiencies could be found through a review of state-owned leases, such as the Iowa Communications Network and Honey Creek Resort to improve taxpayer returns.

“Iowa’s investment in education is substantial, and with greater focus, we can give our children a better education,” Lutz said. “Our public workforce is aging, and our hiring protocols and compensation models need to be modernized to remain competitive. Local government structures create overlapping services that could be delivered more efficiently through collaboration, especially with new technology that are available today.

“Across state operations, there are several assets and processes that could be streamlined to save money and improve service. We were not focused on how to spend less, we were focused on spending smarter, looking for ways to put money where it would be more impactful, like our recommendations on education.”

Although the task force is wrapping up, Schmitt stressed the importance of open discourse, continued improvement, working together and transparency.

“We all are here about the same thing, no matter what aisle you’re on, no matter what outlet, whether what group you’re with, we all want a strong Iowa,” Schmitt said.