STATE GOVERNMENT SIZE CONTINUES TO GROW

(11/06/2004)

Most state administrations in recent years have said they are going to trim the size of government. Gov. Cecil Underwood said he would cut back. He didn't. Under Governor Wise's administration, West Virginia gained about 1,285 full-time positions. Many of the jobs were created as the state closed county jails with the state regional jail system and the state expanded its juvenile detention system. Trimming the state payroll will be one of the toughest jobs facing Governor-elect Manchin. Higher education makes up almost half of the state-funded payroll. Mark Muchow, the fiscal policy director for the state Tax and Revenue Department, says the payroll increases are in areas most taxpayers consider important.

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