### 4. Examples of Administrative Reform Efforts

Local governments are making various administrative reform efforts with the aim of achieving sound financial conditions. The following are some of them.

## Examples of Specific Efforts

## Greater efficiency in the payment of travel expenses and salaries through establishment of the General Affairs Administration Center

In fiscal 2002 established, for the first time in the country, a General Affairs Administration Center for the comprehensive processing of administrative work relating to the payment of travel expenses, salaries, etc. of main office staff and commenced the consignment of administrative work to the private sector. The number of staff was reduced by 10 persons in fiscal 2002—03. The move has the effect of cutting expenses by about ¥50 million a year.

## Prefecture

## I mplementation of administration evaluation utilizing administrative inventory sheets

Since fiscal 1997 has compiled administrative inventory sheets to fully clarify the work of the prefecture and uses them in administration evaluation. In fiscal 2003 the inventory sheets, with additional information for evaluation, were submitted to the special committee on settlement of the prefectural assembly and also reflected in the budget and business. Is building a purpose-oriented administrative management system that can be called the Japanese version of New Public Management (NPM).

## Building of a speedy and flexible administrative work processing setup through the streamlining of the organization

In fiscal 1998, for the first time in the country, abolished sections and established purpose-oriented offices. Abolished middle management posts and trimmed ranking classes. This contributed to reducing the time take for the standard processing of license applications to an average of about 5.2 days and a reduction in the number of staff by 100 persons.

Reduction of number of staff by about 20% (about 3,000 persons) in the 10 years from fiscal 1999—2008 (reduction of 2,456 persons in the five years from fiscal 1999—2003)

## Prefecture

Reduction of managerial allowances (10% reduction from fiscal 2001–04)

## B

Reduction of number of prefecture-related organization staff by about 20% (about 600 persons) in the nine years from fiscal 2000–08 through a review of prefecture-related organizations (reduction of 389 persons in the four years from fiscal 2000–03)

A review of public facilities to abolish, privatize, etc. more than 26 facilities (about 20%) in the seven years from fiscal 2002–08

Reduction of number of staff by 1,000 persons (about 5.5%) in the five years from fiscal 2001—05. (Reduction of 1,100 persons in the three years from fiscal 2001—03.)

Reduction of salaries for special posts. (15% reduction for mayor and 10% reduction for deputy mayor, etc. in fiscal 2002—03.)

Reduction of salaries for general staff. (In fiscal 2002—03, 5% reduction for bureau, department, and section chiefs; 4% reduction for assistant section chiefs and subsection chiefs; 3% reduction for other staff.)

Reorganization and merger of more than three auxiliary organizations in the five years from fiscal 2001 –05.

Raising the municipal tax collection rate from 94.1% in the settlement of fiscal 1999 to the 96% level in the fiscal 2003 settlement.

Implementation of revision of 142 administrative tasks in the five years from fiscal 2001—05. (Achieved the planned target of 88 tasks in the three years from fiscal 2001—03.)