State Workers Feted at Productivity Awards

Nearly 1,000 state workers gathered Thursday at the Leon County Civic Center as awards and recognitions were given out to workers who boosted productivity and found ways to save the state money in the past year as part of the Prudential-Davis Productivity Awards.

In total, 571 awards will be given out in 2011 for employees that collectively saved Florida taxpayers $473 million last year. Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll and Florida TaxWatch Chairman Marshall Criser presided over the program.

"Governor Rick Scott and I know the value of our state employees, we are proud to honor them with the inaugural Governor's Excellence Awards and the Prudential-Davis Productivity Awards for their ingenuity, exemplary leadership skills, diligence and dedication to making Florida No. 1 in productivity and innovative services," Carroll said.

The bonuses and prizes range from $5,000 to $2,500, funded by private enterprises. There will be five other regional events in June to hand out all of the prizes.

Thursday's event is the 23rd annual Prudential-Davis Productivity Awards, during which time state employees have been honored for saving more than $7 billion in taxpayer money.