LINCOLN- Nebraska’s new state treasurer took office this week, and State Sen. Tom Briese of Albion says he has a plan for his first steps on the job: Listen and learn. Then cut. Briese, a corn and soybean farmer with a law degree, has spent several weeks since Gov. Jim Pillen tapped him to replace Treasurer John Murante meeting with his new staff. Briese said he and Pillen are on the same page.

“I have a solemn obligation to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars,” Briese said of his shift to the executive branch. “That means running operations as efficiently as possible.” Briese’s first task, he said, will be getting a handle on what taxpayers receive for the office’s $3.2 million general fund budget, which has stayed fairly flat in recent years.

Briese said he had not yet identified specific cuts. He said his goal is to reduce costs without jeopardizing the service level provided. “Our mindset should always be to implement process improvements and save taxpayer dollars,” Briese said. “The status quo should really never be acceptable.” Briese and his wife have relocated to Lincoln for this position.

For the full article click HERE