Jan. 31, 2005 :  Virginia is tops in the nation in fiscal management. That's according to a review of all 50 states by the Government Performance Project, a joint effort of the Pew Charitable Trust and "Governing" magazine. Governor Warner says Virginia was the only state in the nation to get straight A's in the four categories reviewed by the panel of independent experts.

January 31, 2005

Governor's Office News Release

Ellen Qualls
(804) 786-2211, x 2379
cell: (804) 393-9429

Virginia Gets Top Grade in Management
— Government Performance Project rates the states;
Virginia is the only state to get straight A’s —

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced Virginia got the top score in the Government Performance Project’s “Grading the States 2005” report, the nation’s only comprehensive, independent analysis of how well each state is managed. The first such rating in four years shows Virginia moving up to an overall score of A-. Utah is the only other state with an overall score of A-, but Virginia is the only state with straight A’s across the board in four categories: money, people, infrastructure, and information.

“Virginia has a long tradition of good management,” said Governor Warner. “But this report is the first to focus specifically on results over process, and cites budget reforms we’ve made in the last three years as key to our success. I commend the General Assembly for working with us time and again to do the right thing, and I want to particularly thank the many state employees whose dedication and professionalism make this ranking possible.”

To access the entire report, including Virginia’s report card, please visit the Government Performance Project Web site.  Those interested in getting GPP's press kit for Virginia can visit http://results.gpponline.org/NewsPressKits.aspx.

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