By John Bebow - December 14, 2007
Michigan's reputation in some business circles and some national places-to-do-business rankings is big-government, heavy regulation, tough labor relations, high taxes.
But a new study by the Citizens Research Council blows a couple holes in that conventional wisdom.
Actually...
38 of the 50 states have more public sector workers, when total state population is figured in.
Government workers in Michigan are better paid than their peers in most other places. State workers in Michigan, for example, have higher base salaries than those in all but five other states. And they have richer fringe benefits than those in all but three other states.
The new Citizen Research Council conclusions are similar to those reached by the Center for Michigan in a 2006 study.
Other interesting comparisons from this week's Citizens Research Council Report...
1. We're heavy on school administrators. Only seven states have a higher percentage of "non-instructional" school employees.
2. We have higher government employment than the national average in prisons, hospitals, and higher education.
3. We have lower government employment than the national average in parks and recreation, natural resources and "education-instructional." Consider, for example, that Michigan's "North Coast" natural resources are prized by residents in every corner of the state. But 34 other states have higher employment levels for natural resources.
2 Comments
Not surprising on the stats. Our Governor and our Legislature have enjoyed bigger salaries, and bigger budgets, while telling the citizens we have to "make sacrifices".
I'll tell you what I am prepared to sacrifice, calling myself a Michigander. As a small business owner I can honestly say that if we manage to stay open, pay down the building, we will be leaving Michigan within the next decade.
I'm sick of it. Our state leaders continue to fund themselves, and their unions, at the expense of the rest of us. They have sent a message, "we don't want you...leave".
As a lifelong resident, I have finally got it.
I used to work with what I considered to be a quality person.His favorite saying was when all is said and done more is said than done. (I think he might of got the quote from Lou Holtz.)This person actually lived according to the quote. Whenever working with him he always even in his older years continued to work not talk about work. I never had to go find him because he was always on the job.That is one thing that would go a long way toward improveing our states ecomoney talk when necessary but go back to work we can do it. If you asked my children about my favorite quote to them they would all tell you it was.( Can't died in the poor house right along with couldn't)
Lets talk but also lets work.
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