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TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today applauded members of his staff for winning 21 Prudential - Davis Productivity Awards for both team and individual efforts to increase productivity and save money for Florida taxpayers and businesses. The estimated total savings from the productivity improvements, innovations, consumer recoveries and potential future savings is nearly $290 million. Last year, the Attorney General’s Office received 17 awards, a significant increase over the past 20 years’ collective total of 21 awards.

“Our state is looking for every possible way to increase efficiency and lower costs when serving the people of Florida, and I’m proud the Attorney General’s Office has demonstrated a determination to produce the best and most cost-efficient results available,” said Attorney General McCollum.

Among the award recipients was a team in the Office of the Statewide Prosecutor which was commended for stopping a $13 million dollar fraud scheme; the Director of the Economic Crimes Division who negotiated over $61 million in consumer restitution from the cruise line industry; a seven-person team in the Economic Crimes Division which stopped extensive deceptive practices in the prepaid calling card industry; and the leader of the Economic Crimes Division’s CyberFraud Section who implemented changes in the advertising and billing practices of third-party cell phone content providers for millions of dollars in savings for consumers.

“While we congratulate all the exemplary state employees recognized with Prudential – Davis Productivity Awards this year, it is noteworthy that the Attorney General’s Office was awarded some of the highest honors given this year. These innovations and cost-savings measures will save millions for the taxpayers on the coming years,” explained Clarissa Dunlap, Executive Director of the Prudential – Davis Productivity Awards administered by Florida TaxWatch. “We also thank General McCollum for working with Florida TaxWatch to ensure the practices recognized by these awards are adapted and implemented throughout state government, thereby enhancing taxpayer value.”

Other notable accomplishments included a team that developed an electronic method to file court documents and members of the Information Technology Department which designed, developed, and implemented an automated performance evaluation system. A Central Florida team was also recognized for its work developing strategies to maximize recoveries from fraud-related cases. Six awards included a cash grant to the winners, some of which were over $1,000.

Since 1989, the Davis Productivity Award program, now known as the Prudential - Davis Productivity Awards, has publicly recognized and rewarded state employees and work units whose work significantly and measurably increases productivity and promotes innovation to improve the delivery of state services and saves money for Florida taxpayers and businesses. The 2009 awards competition attracted 559 nominations for innovations and productivity improvements worth $342 million in cost savings, cost avoidances, and increased revenue for state government.

Over the past 20 years, award winners have posted a total of $6 billion in added value for Florida taxpayers and businesses. The awards program also recognizes achievements that are particularly beneficial to citizens and the private sector. The program is administered by Florida TaxWatch and co-sponsored by Florida TaxWatch, The Florida Council of 100 and the State of Florida.