Legislators are looking for places to trim the budget as they stare at a $1.8 billion budget hole.
Reducing state employee compensation is on the list.
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder released a report today that says public employees are making more than twice their private sector counterparts.
The Detroit Free Press says the "Citizen’s Guide to Michigan’s Financial Health," may be sending a signal about "one way the new governor expects to address...the budget shortfall." From the Freep:
He said the overall compensation of the average private sector workers fell 13% from 2000-09 while rising 19% for state employees and 13% for local government workers. For state workers, the average annual compensation -- $53,453 in salary, $31,623 in fringes and $13,000 for insurance-- was more than twice that of the private sector, the report said.
The governor was quoted as saying, "I'd be careful about over generalizing on this data but it does show an important trend that needs to be addressed."
Rick Pluta from the Michigan Public Radio Network reports:
Public employee unions and advocates for human services question some of the data used in the report. They also say they’d like to see Snyder’s plans for investing in schools and infrastructure, as well as protecting people hurt by the economy.
