Facts topple Capitol rhetoric

To hear some politicians tell it, Florida government is awash in overpaid, underworked bureaucrats. Two notable pages in the just-released "2006-07 Annual Workforce Report" take the hot air out of that balloon.

No. 1: Florida employs one state worker for every 94 citizens, which is half as many as Arkansas and lower than all but two other states.

No. 2: Florida spends $36 per capita to pay state workers, which is the lowest amount in the nation. The national average is $56.

These statistics, compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau, were conspicuously removed from the annual report while Jeb Bush was governor and trying to persuade lawmakers to keep cutting back the payroll. But they returned under Gov. Charlie Crist, who has pledged to let professionals do their jobs without political interference.

Few people would disagree that state government needs to employ as few people as possible to get the job done. But the facts don't neatly square with much of the current rhetoric in the Capitol. Thank Crist for bringing them back to light.

[Last modified January 2, 2008, 21:01:54]