The Associated Press

FRANKFORT - Gov. Ernie Fletcher made the first part of his plan for reorganizing state government official Tuesday.

Fletcher signed an executive order that combined some cabinets in state government and created new ones.

The order came with no surprises, and followed a plan Fletcher outlined to reporters earlier this month.

"I am proud to sign this executive order for reorganization because Kentuckians deserve the most efficient and effective state government possible," Fletcher said in a news release. "We will continue our work to ensure greater efficiencies and productivity in state government."

Under the order, Fletcher's administration will have eight cabinets essentially in charge of running state government, compared to the 14 that existed under Gov. Paul Patton. The cabinets are: Education, Transportation, Finance and Administration, Health and Family Services, Justice & Public Safety, Environmental & Public Protection, Economic Development and Commerce.

Meanwhile, Fletcher eliminated the former Personnel Cabinet and made it the Department of Personnel.

The personnel department, the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights and the Kentucky Commission on Women will report to the secretary of Fletcher's executive cabinet.

While the plan is not aimed at immediately saving the state money, it sets the framework for future savings, Fletcher said earlier this month.

Fletcher's reorganization plan is based on a report from his "Blue Ribbon Commission on Governmental Reorganization and Efficiency," which was headed by Bruce Lunsford, a former Democratic candidate for governor.