States shed government jobs as revenue plummets

[The Northerner]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Pennsylvania, Michigan and Washington shed government jobs last month, a result of shrinking state tax revenue that economists fear could weaken the recovery.

State and local government jobs have traditionally provided a haven during economic downturns. But as states have struggled to close growing budget gaps, job cuts have spread.

That trend emerges from data on a dozen states that have released their employment figures in advance of a federal report on Friday on state joblessness for February.

In Michigan, where the unemployment rate is 14.1 percent, the nation's highest, government jobs at all levels fell by 5,000. They accounted for one-third of the state's job losses.

Pennsylvania lost 2,200 government jobs. Minnesota lost 1,900 and Massachusetts 1,500.

Washington state shed 900 government jobs in February. And Wisconsin lost 2,100 government jobs, including 1,600 at the local level.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100325/ap_on_bi_go_ec_fi/us_state_unemployment

[abelenkpe]

1. And libertarians cheer those job losses

and greedily look forward to states going bankrupt, being forced to abandon all pension plans and privatizing everything most particularly public schools, police and fire being the lovely sweet caring people they are.

Please people, support your local candidates and remember to vote this November.

[DollyM]

2. In Illinois, it's teachers . . .

Because the state is so far behind in it's payments to public schools and that situation is looking to get worse in the coming year, it is estimated that 17 thousand teachers in Illinois will be let go. Our area has an unemployment rate of 14 percent already and nearly every school in our county in announcing that they are letting go teachers, teacher aids and even janitors, in an attempt to be able to meet the bills in the coming year. I am so glad that we home schooled our son. I can't even imagine the chaos that is going to ensue with overcrowded classrooms in Illinois now.

[davsand]

5. It isn't only teachers' jobs that have been or are being cut.

Over the last few years the offices at state level have been cut a huge amount--sometimes to the point of minimal function. Departments like IL Dept of Revenue, Office of Banks and Real Estate, and Property Tax Appeal Board have all been cut to the point that they are limping along barely able to do what they need to.

I spoke to PTAB earlier this week and if you file a appeal on your property taxes with them you will wait a MINIMUM of 3 years before you hear anything back from them--let alone get a decision. They have five hearing officers and three clerical people to serve the entire state of Illinois. They have a backlog of cases right now that exceeds the entire population of Springfield and Decatur combined...

Dems may control the state government, but we have done jack to improve it. We are screwed in this state and it is not gonna get better any time in the next few years.


Laura

[DollyM]

6. police now too . . .

I am afraid everything seems to be collapsing in Illinois.

[midnight]

3. I see this economic havoc scheme being used as the trojan horse to privatise....

[aquart]

4. Let me know when they tax the rich to make up the short fall.