Earlier this year the state eliminated more than 1100 positions and more could be on the chopping block under Governor Rick Scotts proposed budget. The state workforce would shrink by about 860 positions, with the biggest cuts at the Florida Department of Health and its county health departments. Scott says many of the positions are no longer necessary.
“In the case of the Department of Health, they were a primary service provider, and as we went to Medicaid Managed Care, now that’s being provided by Medicaid Managed Care and that gives us the opportunity to decrease those jobs. Most of those jobs are already vacant," he said.
The Department of Environmental Protection would lose about 170 jobs. However, some agencies could see job growth.
The Department of Corrections could add more than 470 jobs, and the court system could get 19 new positions. Both agencies have expressed concerns about workforce shortages. Scott also proposes up to $1,500 in performance bonuses for state workers, but no across-the-board pay hikes.
