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  January 14, 2008
  Source:  WorkInjury.com
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Governor's Proposed Budget Mostly Spares the DIR (All Things Considered)

Despite the dire pronouncements by the Governor of "across-the-board" reductions in next year's state budget, a review of his new budget proposal indicates that the Department of Industrial Relations has been more or less spared, especially when compared with other key state agencies.

Key points regarding the DIR found in the Governor's just-released budget package include:

  • An exemption, totaling $56.2 million from the General Fund, for Occupational Safety and Health and Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.

  • A General Fund reduction of a "mere" $1.3 million and 9.5 positions in 2008-09 consisting of:

• A decrease of $553,000 and 2.9 positions impacting administration and support of the Department.

• A decrease of $294,000 and 2.9 positions for the Division of Labor Statistics and Research, which will eliminate the publication of apprenticeship prevailing wage determinations.

• A decrease of $222,000 and 1.8 positions for the Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board and the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board limiting appeals hearings and delaying implementation of regulations, respectively.

• A decrease of $221,000 and 1.9 positions for Mediation and Conciliation.

The Governor has now declared a Special Session of the legislature to deal with his budget plan.

Many see these proposed reductions - and especially his somewhat disingenuous "across-the-board" characterizations - as little more than scare tactics intended to jump-start the bargaining process between Arnold and the legislators.

To review a rather confusing comparative chart from the Governor's Office, showing the differences in appropriations, etc. between this year's proposals versus last year's budget,

PLEASE CLICK HERE.