State Employee Pay Grows 25 Percent Above Inflation Since 1999

Michigan Capitol Confidential ^ | 4/23/2010 | James Hohman

[MichCapCon]

he average state employee compensation package costs approximately $93,039. Inflation-adjusted wages and benefits have increased 25 percent since fiscal 1999. The figures include the value of all benefits from state-paid retirement contributions to dry cleaning allowances.

The largest cost increases came from retirement benefits (which increased from $309 million in fiscal 1999 to $772 million in fiscal 2008) and health insurance (which increased from $273 million in fiscal 1999 to $554 million in fiscal 1999).

The wages and benefits of Michigan's over 50,000 state employees cost taxpayers $4.7 billion in fiscal 2008. This is up from $3.2 billion in fiscal 1999, despite the state now employing 15 percent fewer workers.

[ExTexasRedhead]

Blood Suckers?

[SkyDancer]

Wow, how totally unexpected - meanwhile my granddad didn’t get his 3% yearly increase in his SS check because, he was told, there was no inflation last year and maybe next year too ....

[skeeter]

Yep, the next great internal conflict will not be between north & south, or even liberals and conservatives.

It will be between the government's unions/clients and the private sector.

If Obama wants to talk about a growing inequity between segments of our society he need look no further. But he's not really interested in justice, is he.

[Trajan88]

What would happen if the next conservative president signs an executive order eliminating the dept. of interior, energy, and educations?

Or death by cutting their budgets in 1/2 (or more)?

It is time for govt. employees to feel a little "pain" too... if they're good at what they do and they have marketable degrees/training then let them go survival of the fittest.

[RockyMtnMan]

The problem stems from the fact that government positions compete with private positions to “win” new hires. As salaries rise in the bidding war, existing salaries are brought up to match for “fairness”. Unlike private industry the government has nearly unlimited funds and never has to face investors (taxpayers) about why they require so much to operate.

[BilLies]

What would you call teachers whose contract calls for salary increases, for each end every teacher, of 25% over the four years beginning 7/1/2007 through 6/30/2011,
See Shenendehowa Central Schools, a suburban area north of Albany New York.