Cabinet issues test orders for state modernization

Saxony's state administration must reorganize itself for cost reasons. The cabinet has issued so-called review mandates to the individual departments to assess individual measures. This primarily concerns the possible merger of authorities and the bundling of tasks. A catalog for this comprises 63 points. The aim is to make the state capable of acting and eliminate overregulation, explained State Chancellery head Andreas Handschuh.

Question marks behind advisory boards and commissioners

The ministries and the State Chancellery are required to examine whether at least half of all advisory boards in their areas of responsibility can be abolished. The abolition of the commissioners is also up for discussion. The Ministry of the Interior is to examine, among other things, whether the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution can operate as a department of the ministry in future.

Multiple mergers under discussion

One review order concerns mergers of the State Library with the State Archives, the State Justice Treasury with the Main Treasury of the Free State and the Tourismus Marketing Gesellschaft Sachsen with the State Tourism Association. The concentration of the 25 land registry offices and the merger of the State Offices for Archaeology and for the Preservation of Monuments are also being considered. The same applies to the Upper Mining Authority and the State Geology Department. In connection with a reorganization of the land registry system in Saxony, the focus will be on the "big picture" solution, it was said.

Potential savings at universities under scrutiny

In the area of education and science, the focus will be on a concept for future school network planning and potential savings or synergy effects that universities can achieve through better coordination of subject offerings and greater cooperation. There is also talk of centralizing the four student unions.

"The ministries are asked to list which prizes and competitions exist and to examine which prize awards, competitions and implementation costs can be dispensed with from 2027," it says under point 48. The Ministry of Social Affairs is obliged to take a close look at bundling the administration in hospitals.

Incentive to work longer

The Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Finance should examine how civil servants can remain in service for longer up to the age limit and beyond.

Some of the measures envisaged could already take effect when the double budget for 2027/2028 is drawn up. In most cases, the review should be completed by the end of March, in some cases as early as the end of February. The State Chancellery announced that more than 1,000 proposals had come from the administration itself.