Optimization of Management Costs of Bodies of State Power in Astrakhan Oblast

Client: Ministry of Social Development and Labor of Astrakhan Oblast

Project Manager: Natalia Barbashova

Project Duration: November – December 2009

The purpose of the project is optimize management costs of bodies of state power of Astrakhan Oblast in order to rationalize the use of resources and ensure compliance with uniform principles while determining the amount to be spent from Oblast budget on Oblast’s bodies of state power.

The assignments under the project include the following:

Stage 1. Develop a concept of control over management costs of bodies of state power of Astrakhan Oblast

• analyze the possibility and relevance of using international experience and domestic best practices pertaining to optimization of management costs of bodies of state power of Astrakhan Oblast;


• analyze regulatory and methodological documents of Astrakhan Oblast for the lack of conflict with other laws and regulations of Astrakhan Oblast and regulatory acts of the Russian Federation;


• analyze the current cost management system regarding bodies of state power of Astrakhan Oblast including decision-making mechanisms pertaining to changes of the level of such costs. Identify and formalize factors that have impact on the management costs level;


• review management costs of bodies of state power;


• make recommendations to optimize the cost management system including recommendations in terms of its main modules (planning, accounting, control, monitoring);


• develop a work plan to implement the concept of control over management costs of bodies of state power in 2010 - 2011.

Stage 2. Develop and test methodological approaches to standardization of functional costs of bodies of state power of Astrakhan Oblast.

• review functions of bodies of state power;


• evaluate the optimal number of staff in bodies of state power;


• draft a comprehensive methodology for developing a functional costs standard for bodies of state power;


• test, in pilot format, the comprehensive methodology for developing a functional costs standard for bodies of state power;


• analyze needs in, actual spending on and standard amount of functional costs regarding management of bodies of state power;


• make recommendations for using functional costs standards regarding management of bodies of state power.

Stage 3. Develop and test methodological approaches to standardization of administrative costs of bodies of state power of Astrakhan Oblast.

• identify and review the effectiveness of material and technical costs;


• draft a comprehensive methodology for developing an administrative costs standard for bodies of state power;


• test, in pilot format, the comprehensive methodology for developing an administrative costs standard for bodies of state power;


• analyze needs in, actual spending on and standard amount of administrative costs regarding management of bodies of state power;


• make a comparative analysis of needs in, actual spending on and standard amount of administrative costs regarding management of bodies of state power.