Gov. Jim Doyle and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced Tuesday a nation-leading program entailing service agreements between the two states to reduce budget deficits.
Doyle and Pawlenty signed executive orders calling on their respective states' secretaries to identify potential areas in which cooperation between states could produce economic benefits.
A statement from Doyle highlighted three areas for possible joint efforts, including procurement, facilities and vehicles and various cooperative functions such as call centers and agricultural operations.
Effective service agreements will allow for improvements in the delivery and cost-effectiveness of services within each state, according to the statement.
Doyle and Pawlenty have been developing the initiative for several months, exchanging phone calls and devising creative approaches to solving problems associated with the economic downturn, according to Doyle spokesperson Carla Vigue.
In his executive order, Doyle highlighted Wisconsin and Minnesota's shared challenge of meeting demands for state services while tackling multi-million dollar budget deficits.
Doyle said hope lies in combining efforts to alleviate both states' financial pressures.
This is a common-sense way to cut government spending while protecting essential services during a tough economic time for our country,"" Doyle said.
Despite the states' notorious divide between professional football teams, Pawlenty said in a statement he sees the potential for effective collaboration and teamwork.
""We're not proposing to merge the Vikings and the Packers, but we are going to seek out every area where we can save money and improve services by working together across state lines,"" Pawlenty said.
Doyle's executive order calls for state secretaries to provide reports that name potential service agreements between Wisconsin and Minnesota by Feb. 27, 2009.
