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Steady progress reduces state workforce 5 percent

Angie Drobnic Holan
By Angie Drobnic Holan January 4, 2013

The last time we looked at this promise, Gov. Rick Scott had proposed a significant cut to the state workforce, but the Republican-controlled Legislature didn't cut as much Scott requested. So we rated his promise to reduce the state workforce by 5 percent as Compromise.

Since then, one legislative session has come and gone, and Scott has achieved his goal.

We should note there are several different ways to measure the state workforce, but all show roughly the same trend.

We focused on the number of positions authorized and funded by the state budget. Here's what we found for the three previous fiscal years:

2010-11: 126,728.50
2011-12: 122,235.75
2012-13: 117,881.75

Using these numbers, the state workforce has declined by 7.8 percent, meeting Scott's goal. We rate this Promise Kept.

Our Sources

Florida Fiscal Portal, 2012-2013 budget documents, accessed Dec. 28, 2012

Email interview with Jackie Schutz, spokesperson for Gov. Rick Scott, Jan. 3, 2013

Florida Department of Management Services, Annual Workforce Reports, accessed Jan. 3, 2013