Online Auctions Generate New Markets and Open Access to Illinois Government Surplus

SPRINGFIELD - By auctioning computers, retro office furniture, antiques, and even a helicopter on the World Wide Web, the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) today announced that its online surplus property sales total $750,000 since the launch of www.ibid.illinois.gov in August of 2003. Conceptualized as Illinois government's equivalent of eBay, the innovative website has sold more than 3,400 items throughout Illinois, across the country and around the world.

"The Internet-based auctions have proven to be a real goldmine for the state as we've been able to heighten our revenues by selling the Illinois' government's unneeded property," said Paul Campbell, acting director of CMS. "During our state's difficult fiscal times, Gov. Blagojevich asked us to be creative in both reducing our costs and generating new revenues, and this website has opened access for thousands of people to place bids on and purchase items, so that we can get a higher return for Illinois taxpayers."

During the past 30 months, more than 10,400 bidders worldwide have visited and registered on the website, which has improved the resale value of surplus property by exponentially expanding access to unneeded items, and brought a higher rate of return to Illinois taxpayers. Surplus sold at www.ibid.illinois.gov includes cars, desks, exercise equipment, tractors, boats, snowmobiles, motorcycles, campers and a Zamboni. Items currently being sold include tools, beach chairs, exercise equipment, a camera, computers, and surrendered scissors, knives and tools from airports in Illinois.

"The true success of the I-BID website is that it's successfully using technology to make government more accessible to people throughout Illinois. Now, the state's surplus property isn't simply sold to a handful of insiders at bargain-basement prices, but to bidders who live throughout our state and country," said State Sen. Deanna Demuzio (D-Carlinville).

Altogether, the state generated more than $1.2 million through its surplus property sales in 2005. In addition to its ongoing auctions at www.ibid.illinois.gov, the agency also regularly hosts live surplus property and auto auctions at the Surplus Property Warehouse in Springfield. To learn more about the Surplus Property Program, visit www.cms.illinois.gov.

About Central Management Services (CMS)
In 2003, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich directed CMS to streamline the state's operations, share resources and save taxpayer money while improving the business services of state government. By bringing private-sector discipline to its public-sector mission, the department leads the cost-effective administration of purchasing, property management, information technology, telecommunications, internal audit and outside legal services for the state's executive agencies, personnel and benefits for all state employees and retirees, and the state's employee and vendor diversity programs.

Through its efforts in FY04 and FY05 alone, Deloitte Consulting recently validated that CMS achieved $529 million in savings as it implemented new technologies, reduced waste and rethought many of the administrative operations of the state.