Ohio sees decline in state workers
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Ohio Gov. John Kasich believes a smaller government benefits taxpayers and, to that end, the number of state employees continues to decline under the Republican governor.
According to an analysis by The Columbus Dispatch, employment throughout state government has decreased by 2,958 workers to 56,875 — a 5-percent drop.
The state faced an $8 billion budget shortfall when Kasich took office.
"It wouldn't matter if we were running giant surpluses," Kasich told the Dispatch. "This is such an incredible success story, and it is something we will do every single day of every single year."
Smaller state budgets are forcing government officials in all departments to find efficiencies, Department of Administrative Services deputy director Steve Wall told the Dispatch.
"If there's a silver lining in all this, it's that people are much more motivated to be more efficient," he said. "At some point, after you've been cutting fat, you start cutting into muscle. There's not a lot of fat left, that's for sure."
Kasich, 59, was sworn in as Ohio’s 69th governor on Jan. 10, 2011. In his inaugural address he called on Ohioans to come together to make the Buckeye State stronger and more prosperous for all.
Kasich served as a member of Congress from central Ohio for 18 years and, as the chairman of the House Budget Committee, he led the effort to balance the federal budget for the first time since 1969 and helped enact historic welfare reform.[[In-content Ad]]
According to an analysis by The Columbus Dispatch, employment throughout state government has decreased by 2,958 workers to 56,875 — a 5-percent drop.
The state faced an $8 billion budget shortfall when Kasich took office.
"It wouldn't matter if we were running giant surpluses," Kasich told the Dispatch. "This is such an incredible success story, and it is something we will do every single day of every single year."
Smaller state budgets are forcing government officials in all departments to find efficiencies, Department of Administrative Services deputy director Steve Wall told the Dispatch.
"If there's a silver lining in all this, it's that people are much more motivated to be more efficient," he said. "At some point, after you've been cutting fat, you start cutting into muscle. There's not a lot of fat left, that's for sure."
Kasich, 59, was sworn in as Ohio’s 69th governor on Jan. 10, 2011. In his inaugural address he called on Ohioans to come together to make the Buckeye State stronger and more prosperous for all.
Kasich served as a member of Congress from central Ohio for 18 years and, as the chairman of the House Budget Committee, he led the effort to balance the federal budget for the first time since 1969 and helped enact historic welfare reform.[[In-content Ad]]