Federal workers get better pay and benefits, but that is not necessarily true at the state and local levels. Many state and local jobs don’t pay worth a darn. The real problem is cutting down the government at all levels, so that government only does what government is supposed to do - public safety and the courts.
Then you can whack the number of courts you need to support. Those judges and their lackeys are not cheap to come by.
The surplus this year in Indiana came about because the government employees eliminated waste, fraud and abuse ~ AND found better, more efficient ways to do business for the public.
The state of Indiana had not raised taxes to suck more blood out of the hard-pressed public. They did a commendable job. Mitch recognized them the way the law provides.
Failure to recognize their substantial "beyond the call of duty" effort would be the same as stealing from them.
It's really stupid to be niggardly with folks who just saved you money and gave you back more than you gave them!
Didn't Jesus teach you that?