4,000 jobs trimmed from state payroll / Duties were shifted to private firms; remaining workers earn a bit more
Source: By Mary Beth Schneider and Mark Nichols, Indianapolis Star (IN), September 23, 2007
The number of Hoosiers working full time for the state since Gov. Mitch Daniels took office in 2005 has fallen by more than 4,000, partly because some jobs have been turned over to private companies. Most state employees have seen their salaries go up, but dollars spent on the executive and judicial branches have dropped by more than $15 million. These are among several findings in a new state-pay database The Indianapolis Star is making available on its Web site today.
....... The database shows that shifting jobs to the private sector is reducing the amount taxpayers spend on state salaries, although those savings are offset by the contracts the state has signed with private firms to take over the work.