Rescue California

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State jobs boom under Davis

May 11, 2003

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positions as it moves to balance its budget in coming weeks. The county has 8,300 employees.

Republicans contend that state spending has grown too fast under Davis, and one reason for that is the escalating work force.

California had 175,614 full-time employees, excluding public colleges and universities, when Davis was sworn in as governor in January 1999. At the July 2002 peak, it reached 198,549. Last month, state full-time employment stood at 195,216.

Ackerman, the Republican senator, said the state should cut 20,000 employees and return the work force to the level it was at before Davis became governor.

The statement is easy for Ackerman to make without providing specifics, countered Maviglio. "Is he proposing to cut back ... our homeland security or our health or welfare programs? Clearly, the public has no appetite for that. If he has a plan, we'd sure like to see it because he hasn't shared it with us."

In January, Davis called for $470 million in salary concessions as a way to try to protect workers' jobs. Marty Morgenstern, director of the Department of Personnel Administration who is leading negotiations with unions, said the state has done everything it can to avoid layoffs.

"Every state employee provides a valuable service and we don't want to lose them if we don't have to," Morgenstern said. "I think it's tough for all of us. It's not good for everyone's morale."

Administration officials said dozens of employees will receive layoff notices next week because of already-approved midyear budget cuts.

Ackerman wants to see many more in Davis' new budget proposal this week. The senator said handing out pink slips is hard to do for any chief executive but necessary to meet the bottom line. "It requires leadership," he said. "The governor is refusing to do that."

Ackerman accuses the governor of delaying layoffs to please unions, which contributed heavily to the governor's campaigns for office.

The charge drew a sharp rebuttal from Davis' spokesman. "That flies in the face of reality when you look at the governor's plan," Maviglio said. "We're issuing layoff notices next week, and the governor has cut programs that are closest to his heart."

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