Like everything else in the Lone Star state, e-government in Texas has some king size ideas on serving the public with cost savings for the taxpayer. Bill Eggers, who is staff director of e-Texas for the Comptroller's office, sees the online trend leading to a permanent outsourcing partnership with the private sector. It's easy, Eggers said. It's a matter of cost and efficiency. Through the click of a mouse, taxpayers can log on to a government web page and access services that now, may require long drives that are matched by even longer waits standing in line.
Eggers is no stranger to revamping government.
He has worked with the Texas Comptroller's office in government transformation, competition policy and government streamlining. Since January 1999, he has been involved in working on e-government. It was officially launched last November. In that time, he has come in contact with many private sector firms that have played a role in e-Texas and outsourcing. For instance, Andersen Consulting has provided data showing Eggers and others the need for e-government.