Governor enlists well-paid consultant to eliminate waste in state government

Every candidate for governor always promises two things – to cut property taxes, and eliminate the “waste” in state spending.

Both of those pledges are awfully easy to make -- and play well on a TV ad -- and much harder to achieve.

Current Gov. Jim Pillen is finding that out this year with his property tax reduction ideas. But he’s adopted a different tactic in cutting the fat from state spending by hiring a high-priced consultant to suggest reductions.

He enlisted Epiphany Associates, a Utah-based consultant who reportedly increased efficiency in state government in that western state by 35%....