COLUMBIA, S.C. - Residents can give their opinions on improving state government during a call-in program Thursday night featuring Gov. Mark Sanford and Ken Wingate, chairman of the Commission on Management, Accountability and Performance.

Sanford and Wingate, a fellow Republican who ran against Sanford during last year's gubernatorial primary, will take calls from viewers during a one-hour "Stateline" program on South Carolina Educational Television.

The commission was formed in June to study government accountability and performance and cut waste. Among other things, it has been analyzing how many employees, vehicles and buildings agencies have. Committee members are looking to reduce costs, increase accountability, improve services and cut redundancy.

The commission already has sought public input through surveys and a series of public hearings.

A final report on the findings will be issued this month.

Among the recommendations will be the significant restructuring of the Department of Social Services, Wingate said.

DSS, which has more than 5,000 employees and a complex mission, hasn't been operating efficiently, he said.

"We're not eliminating the work it has to do, but rather coordinating the work it has to do in a way that makes it able to meet its core mission and objectives in a manner that's more efficient financially and more effective," Wingate said.

Technology is a major problem for many agencies. For instance, DSS could be better served by issuing laptop computers to case managers, Wingate said. That would allow them to file reports from the field rather than travel back to the office, racking up overtime and cutting the time they can meet with other clients, he said.

Other agencies need to streamline their accounting functions or human resource offices through technology, Wingate said.

Sanford plans to use the commission's findings as part of his budget process.

"The governor is looking forward to taking that information, along with the information he's gathered during his summer-long budget hearings, and identifying where it's going to fit in within that overall framework of improving efficiency and creating value to the taxpayer," said Sanford spokesman Will Folks.

Sanford, who took office in January, has said he's seen numerous inefficiencies in state government through his first budget process.

"Stateline" will air from 7-8 p.m. Thursday on ETV. To pose questions or offer comments, viewers may call 800-768-3886 or 803-737-1137 or send e-mail to stateline@scetv.org.