The word "consolidation" is thick in air these days, as Idaho legislators and state officials struggle to find ways to keep government running as the recession bottoms outs.

In a visit with the Times-News editorial board last week, Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter said he's asked cabinet members to look for agencies that can share people and resources. Otter declined to discuss specifics, but said that "in many cases they're very small but very important to the people they serve."

With that type of consolidation, for example, agencies could share the same receptionist and copy machine, Otter said, adding that another benefit would be cross-training of employees.

Good idea. But what about taking a step further?

There are 21 different buildings in Twin Falls that house state agencies. What if there were, say, six?

Or what about transforming the biggest state building in Twin Falls, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare's Region 5 headquarters on Pole Line Road, into a service center - sort of a one-stop hub where the public could find services ranging from food stamps to tax forms to workers compensation information?

Most state workers don't need a retail-style facility in which to do their jobs. So what if the governor and the Legislature cut through bureaucratic regulations and actually made it possible for employees who don't deal directly with the public to work at home?

Bottom line: Does the way the state interacts with clients for its services make sense?

Probably not, but capturing efficiencies would mean a huge culture change for a workforce taught to do things by the book.

It's easy to talk about empowering workers, but not so simple to get it done. If the same receptionist were fronting for, say, Health and Welfare, the Idaho Department of Water Resources and the Blind and Visually Impaired Commission, he or she would require autonomy that many state bosses are unwilling to give.

In government, real reform means real discomfort. Are lawmakers and state officials willing to endure it to save taxpayers money?