Pasadena, CA -- (SBWire) -- 03/11/2011 -- Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has proposed cutting almost 22,000 state government jobs as one of the ways to cover the budget deficit. The state is facing a $3.6 billion deficit.
The proposals were included in the proposed 2012-13 budget, in which, Walker wants to shift several government duties to a new authority. To do this he plans on cutting the funding by 10 percent in most government agencies and cutting public education funds by $700 million.
The budget would cut around 17,500 jobs from state payrolls by creating a new entity for the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Another 4,000 jobs will be cut by reducing assistance given to departments concerned with health and housing, correctional facilities, eliminating vacant posts and closing the commerce department.
Most of Walker's proposals since taking office have drawn the wrath of the state's unions. But the state's business community has been more supportive of the governor's plans. Tim Sheehy, president of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association for Commerce says that Walker's budget gives businesses more stability and the promise of taxes not going up. Wisconsin may be about to lose thousands of government jobs, but the private sector has plenty of openings in the state. EmploymentCrossing, a job aggregator website, has been able to find over 23,000 jobs in Wisconsin this month.
Wisconsin May Eliminate 22,000 Government Jobs, EmploymentCrossing Finds 23,000 Jobs in State
The proposals were included in the proposed 2012-13 budget, in which, Walker wants to shift several government duties to a new authority. To do this he plans on cutting the funding by 10 percent in most government agencies and cutting public education funds by $700 million.