
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 16, 1991                   TAG: 9102180322
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A/11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

NEED CONTROLS ON STATE'S JOB GROWTH

STATE SEN. Joe Benedetti (Commentary Page, Jan. 22) was right. Even in these hard times, the state continues to add people to the payroll. Gov. Douglas Wilder's proposed budget for fiscal 1992 included 2,092 more positions than the budget in force (Chapter 668, 1989) when he took office.

The budget the day Wilder was inaugurated allowed for total state employment of 102,968.53 "full-time equivalent" positions. The budget bill he introduced last month included 105,060.96 such positions.

It is impossible to say where all the new jobs are because they are across the spectrum. But the major areas of growth include colleges, the lottery department, transportation and public safety (prison guards, for example) and social services. Some departments have seen real reductions, others major increases.

Those state employees facing layoffs, frozen salaries and furloughs should be upset. For years, Republican legislators have argued for a hiring freeze and some controls on employment growth. It is our position that if Virginia controlled the number of people on the payroll, those that remained could be paid and treated fairly.

That is one reason 42 of 49 Republican legislators, including Benedetti, voted "no" on the budget amendments.

STEPHEN D. HANER

Executive Director, Joint Republican Caucus of Virginia General Assembly

RICHMOND

by CNB