In 18 months PA. county saves $ 170,000 by buying reman's

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In 18 months Pennsylvania county saves $ 170,000 by buying remanufactured toners and inks

PA Franklin County workers save big money
Franklin County employees have been pinching pennies for nearly two years, and the government’s bottom line is showing it.The commissioners’ emphasis on "going paperless" saved 1.36 million printed pages — 272 cases of paper — in 18 months, according to Purchasing Director Brenda Covert.

"Talk about saving a tree," Commissioner Robert Thomas said.Covert reported to county commissioners on Thursday that the county’s revamped ordering process and its purchase of remanufactured toner cartridges also saved nearly $170,000 in the 18 months from July 2009 through December 2010.She projected about $56,000 in annual savings with three additional initiatives addressing the purchase of natural gas, printing equipment and cleaning supplies.

The savings is equal to about one-sixth of a mill of county real estate tax. Each mill of real estate tax is expected to generate $1.4 million in 2012.Covert’s report came a week before county commissioners are scheduled to adopt a $122 million final budget. The spending plan for 2012 would not change the county real estate tax rate.The cost-cutting initiatives grew out of the commissioners’ successful effort to cut 8 percent from the county’s 2009 budget."As the paperless initiative progresses, expense will go down," Covert said.

She expects the county to reduce print costs by 8 cents a copy when its 83 network printers are managed through a print service. The county pays about 2.5 cents per,black and white print, according to county Administrator John Hart. The cost under the contract would be 1.7 cents per copy. Total annual savings projected: $12,229.The service, available though a state-approved contract, will automatically reorder toner and notify troubleshooters.

Covert also said the county could save about 25 percent, or $20,000 a year, on custodial supplies through another state-approved contract. Machines will dispense and mix cleaning solutions. The county would no longer order individual bottles of many products.

The county will save more than $47,000 over two years by locking in prices for natural gas, according to Covert. The county jail would save $23,208 and the buildings on Franklin Farm Lane $24,019.

The county is also phasing out individual copiers, scanners and printers for all-in-one units, where possible.The county has streamlined its ordering procedure for office supplies, Covert said. The county currently has approved 568 items, 237 of them ink cartridges and toners, for purchase. Two years ago departments could have ordered any of about 25,000 items from a vendor’s catalog. Purchases are made twice a week, as opposed to any day two years ago. All departments use requisitions.

"We had all kinds of backlash," she said. "What a success we had. It was phenomenal."By using select items, such as generic rather than brand-name pens, the county saved $128,400 on general office supplies in 18 months. By using remanufactured toner cartridges the county saved another $41,250."It was definitely a cultural change in how to do business," Thomas said.Hart commended Covert’s department for successfully communicating the changes to county staff.

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December 12, 2011 at 12:52 PM