A biennial budget tops Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett‘s much awaited government reform plan aimed at improving state government, rooting out waste and fraud, and making government more fiscally responsible and accountable.

He points out 20 states use a two-year budget cycle, which he believes provides more predictability for those government agencies and programs dependent on state dollars as well as provides for a more focused, long-term analysis of the effectiveness of government.

In unveiling his plan today, one week after taking office, Corbett stated in a news release, “We are facing a multi-billion dollar deficit and we must do something about it. I made a commitment to the people of Pennsylvania that I would reform state government, and I intend to make good on that commitment starting today.’’

To switch to a two-year budget cycle would require a constitutional amendment. Two Lancaster County Republicans — Rep. Bryan Cutler and Sen. Mike Brubaker — introduced legislation today to start that amendment process.

Other reform ideas in Corbett’s plan call for forming a task force to study ways to make government spending more transparent through an online searchable database; urging the Legislature to document the potential fiscal impact of proposed legislation before it is put up for a House or Senate vote; establish performance goals that agencies have to meet and reviewing their progress annually with an eye toward eliminating programs that persistently fall short of the mark.

He also is calling for consolidation of computer and administrative office functions, and urging legislative leaders and members of the judiciary to do the same.

He is issuing an executive order to establish a task force to immediately review all of the commonwealth’s boards and commissions.Boards and commissions found to be inactive or ineffective would be eliminated and new boards would get a five-year lifespan before being reviewed.

Other parts call for cutting the cost of government by 10 percent; centralizing communications between agencies; reviewing and identifying the number of state-owned vehicles; looking at policies governing gifts during the purchasing process and bidding for state contracts.

 He plans to eliminate the use of discretionary funds, known as walking around money or WAMs, to fund pet projects. He plans to require state employees to provide receipts for travel-related expenses and is encouraging the Legislature and courts to do the same.

He plans to negotiate with the Legislature during the budget process how much they hold in reserve funds. And he is encouraging the Legislature to contribute the same amount for their health insurance as other state employees.

Currently, state employees contribute 3 percent of their salary toward their health insurance. Senators and Senate staff contribute 1 percent of their salary for health coverage. The House plans to require a 1 percent of salary contribution for their health benefits later this year.