By Freedomlover

February 2, 2009 10:54 PM | Link to this

This is socialism at it’s best! Punish those who work, reduce their pay, and give to those who don’t. State workers need to stand up and stop this nonsense.It’s high time welfare is slashed.All those abled bodied persons shouldn’t be able to receive one more red cent from the government( i.e us).

By State Worker

February 2, 2009 11:07 PM | Link to this

It isn’t current. I was hired last June and am not on the list. Also, some of the salaries of my co-workers are outdated. Nice try but needs updated.

By Arnie

February 3, 2009 6:30 AM | Link to this

Just another way the idiots in Columbus intend on embarrasing themselves and the residents of Ohio

By boomer

February 3, 2009 6:56 AM | Link to this

I agree w/Frdmlvr. How about listing all of DDN’s employees? All welfare, Medicaid and WIC recipients? Postal employees? Library employees? City, Twp employees? OR all the salaries of the BANKS THAT RECEIVE FEDERAL BAILOUTS?? Same principal. Cut this crap out. It is indeed Socialist.

By Buckeye

February 3, 2009 7:13 AM | Link to this

I think the idea of transparency is great. However, do we really need to know all of the details they provide, DOB etc.? I don’t know how hard identity theft is, but this open database may make it a little easier. It is interesting to see that one of the highest paid wages is that of the woman that sets prevailing wages.

By kurt

February 3, 2009 7:51 AM | Link to this

Hey “freedomlover”—the private sector employee without a union likes his freedom too—-I don’t appreciate the cost of government where the average employee is making 30% than his private sector counterpart—-and putting NOTHING on the market people want to buy [ but they have to buy]

By Buckeye

February 3, 2009 7:51 AM | Link to this

boomer, there really shouldn’t be a problem listing the pay of state employees. It is public record. Just like the federal government, there are published GS schedules at opm.gov and for those not using the GS system there is pay banding, not to mention SES and STS. All of it is public record, save the employees’ names. I believe if it were socialistic, we (the government) would hire even more employees. The pay of specific postal employees’ positions is indeed public record. The same is true with city and township jobs. Private industry employees are a completely different issue. The taxpayers’ money was not used (in the past) to pay their wages.

By kurt

February 3, 2009 7:54 AM | Link to this

Crybaby state workers—-YOUR pay IS a matter of public record.It’s an insult,the wages you make.You aren’t concerned about privacy—be honest—you’re embarrassed.Government unions should have been eradicated LONG before private sector unions were

By shellymoe

February 3, 2009 8:14 AM | Link to this

State employees are paid by tax dollars, that’s why it’s public info. DDN is a private company so no reason for their info to be made public (hubby works for DDN & does not get what he should!). Go ahead & list names of aid recipients - my name will appear for WIC & until 6 months ago, would’ve shown for food stamps & medicaid too. Bottom line, if you’re paid with public money then your income is public knowledge. Don’t like it? Find a new job. I’ll work for the state & tell the world what I make! Over all, I couldn’t care less.

By Gary

February 3, 2009 8:30 AM | Link to this

Tell you what lover and boomer, why don’t you hire all those “able bodies persons” and then they won’t have to receive “one more red cent” from the Government. Until you can do that, I suggest you knock off all the stupid “Socialism” nonsense.

By Ted

February 3, 2009 8:37 AM | Link to this

If you search for people making over $70/hour you see that the state employs at least fifty psychiatrists, many making over $200k/year. Why does the state need to spend so much money on shrinks?

By Barking bulldog

February 3, 2009 8:43 AM | Link to this

At an earlier point in time working for the governement was truly “service”. Years ago a job with the government ment working for lower wages and putting up with the public’s crap. Well today most government workers are overpaid and usually underworked lacking in respsonsibility and effort. A visit to the Montgomery County Auditor’s office will give you a good idea of the sour attitude a govt’ employee is now allowed to exhibit to the public who comes in and seeks their assistance. Many of these “servants” who object to the disclosure of their pay are smart enough to realize the potential backlash they face when the public learns how much they are paid for so little that they do

By another state worker

February 3, 2009 9:24 AM | Link to this

cut the budget by quit buying uneccessary funiture for political state workers instead of cutting jobs or salary. we can hardly afford our insurance let alone we have to pick up more of that too.

By Sick of it all

February 3, 2009 9:56 AM | Link to this

Those poor saps that I saw making $7.00 an hour are going to love a 6% pay cut! Puh-lease!!

By Carl

February 3, 2009 10:08 AM | Link to this

Everyone wanted change. Now live with it, this is just the beginning. When you have to fill out a 16 page form just to go to the bathroom than all you folks who wanted change, I hope are happy.

By This goes over the line

February 3, 2009 10:30 AM | Link to this

I agree with the above this is wrong,and the data is for 2007. I agree that state worker’s salaries should be public knowledge, but by position and salary range not the individual, no one should be able to pull up how much sick leave I use or when I started working for the state just by using my name. All welfare, food stamp etc. receipients receive state money where is there list?

By null

February 3, 2009 11:19 AM | Link to this

YEAH the gov wants to cut state workers pay. HOW about cut some of his $133K or a Dep Director’s pay of at LEAST $100K. Leave the peon’s that actually do the WORK alone! People in high places also need to learn how to do their own jobs, instead of having someone do it for them and they get the credit!

By Guppy

February 3, 2009 11:26 AM | Link to this

I am also a State worker, and my info is really inaccurate. And I didn’t see my D.o.B. which someone else said is there. Date of hire is a mysterious 6 digit number. Good Information!

By David

February 3, 2009 11:26 AM | Link to this

Where are you seeing DOB? I didn’t see that.

By barton smock

February 3, 2009 11:30 AM | Link to this

Open Letter to the Buckeye Institute, I had fruit loops for breakfast, secretly call myself The Silver Raccoon when in super-hero mode, have a birthmark on my shoulder that grows an insane amount of hair, and spend more on nsf fees than I do groceries. Thought you might want to know some more personal info to go along with my salary and date of birth etc. You have abused transparency and we are more naked for it. At issue is not the bottom line salaries of employees of state, but of the other income that is made from dealings outside the employment contract. You have given the emperor clothes to hide in, and made his subjects feel guilty for the scraps of cloth they can afford. Good job. Barton Smock (but, of course, you already knew that)

By Sassy

February 3, 2009 12:25 PM | Link to this

the data is out of date…State Worker? Well, eventually you will be on in the database too!

By Confused

February 3, 2009 12:26 PM | Link to this

Wow.. so what is the point? Do people really have nothing better to do? On a side note, they are not “year to date” as it states- and they are a few years behind.

By flipper

February 3, 2009 12:51 PM | Link to this

Ohio needs to follow lead of California Gov. Schwartzenegger and take 2 days per month without pay for all state workers. They probably goof off that much anyway.

By Its not Socialism

February 3, 2009 2:14 PM | Link to this

SOCIALSIM noun 1. a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.

By Badge 1

February 3, 2009 2:24 PM | Link to this

I’m not sure why ODH always gets picked on, God knows there is enough stupidity to go around. Having just left the agency after 11 years, I can tell you it isn’t the number of employees only that is a problem, it is the quality. When previous administrations dump excess baggage into an agency before they leave, it will get top heavy. DAS is as much to blame as anyone. There criteria is what people are hired against. Why do the taxpayers need to pay a lady with an MBA to supervise people in communications? Why have most of the people tasked with managing health emergencies never taken any emergency management classes? A couple of months ago, channel 4 in Columbus did a big expose on ODH because when they drove past at night all of the lights were on in the building. There is a reason for that, there are no light switches. DAS owns the building. And last but not least, an agency that is majority funded by federal grants isn’t allowed to hire people they need on the fed dollar. Then the positions dry up and so do the fed dollars. Try another agency, you’ll find the same thing.

By Duke

February 3, 2009 5:52 PM | Link to this

Flipper, you are a moron! You have no idea what I do as a state employee or what kind of abuse I have to take from idiots like you on an almost daily basis. I work hard every day. I work with programs that have helped collect over 1.5 billion in dollars for families that need it to survive. I went three years without any type of pay increase while my portion of the health care premiums and all of the other costs associated with medical continued to sky rocket. Not to mention the inflationary increases that go on in the real world. In my 21 years I have sacrificed time with my family to get jobs done efficiently and effectively. I have worked on my own time countless number of hours to ensure that the job is done as quickly and correctly as possible. I didn’t do it to gain fame or more money or anything else. I have done these things because of the responsibility that I have as a state employee. There are thousands more just like me. Are there bad state employees, yes, but there are bad employees every where. What I have not heard yet is does this include the Governor, all Legislators and every one else who make up the unethical and corrupt government we have to work in to try to get the job done?

By ralph

February 3, 2009 6:24 PM | Link to this

No one ever accused the GOVERNMENT of keeping accurate records. Most Federal and many state agencies are not able to be audited by the the government or independent accountants.

By Troubled

February 3, 2009 8:53 PM | Link to this

I am also a state worker, I can’t tell you the number of people that pay the high cost of our health insurance and then can’t afford to take thier kids to the Doc. everyone always thinks someone else gets paid better then they should and that thier job is to easy. I’m here to tell you the majority of us earn our pay. Just how much does GM or Chryler pay thier employees that work the production line, I bet it is more than I make. And we don’t see thier names on a list even after the bail out that was paid for with our taxes. Look for true waste if you want to cut money in the state. How about the Highway Patrol Officiers that leave thier cruisers running while having a conversation (job related or not), or the fact that the state pays outside contractors enormous sums to do the work that state employees could do better but arn’t allowed to. I think disclosing personnel information is going to far, list how much the wages are for the position leave the person out of it.

By Another State Worker

February 3, 2009 11:12 PM | Link to this

I am a state worker who has been working very hard lately to help Ohioans who were laid off find new jobs. I’m actually very glad that the Buckeye Institute has published the salaries of my co-workers and bosses, so I can see how much the lazy, worthless ones are making. Some who don’t work as hard as me earn far more per hour, so I am going to slack off and stop trying so hard to help people. Clearly wages of state workers have nothing to do with the quality of our output or work ethic, so I’ll stop trying now. Thanks Buckeye Institute for saving me from stressing myself out.

By Public Servant

February 4, 2009 5:10 PM | Link to this

I am a state worker. I have considered myself a public servant for 29 years. I am proud to have served the public, just as many of my peers are proud to have served. My generation was the JFK generation. We served in public and private companies, we served in the Peace Corps, we served in the armed forces, and we lived the message and “asked not what our country could do for us – but what we could do for our country”, and what we could do to make this country a better place. No matter how strongly I believe in government transparency – posting my salary, leave time usage, and other personal information does make me feel violated – however I will abide. It is more hurtful and disappoints me more to see so many citizens’ blogging and posting opinions that all state workers are lazy, or overpaid, or that all state workers are anything at all. I am sure these opinions are based upon the bloggers’ personal observations and experiences with state employees, and that is a shame. However, I would caution these same people that generalizations are a very dangerous thing. Anytime that we as a people say that all of particular group is this thing or that thing we are treading on very dangerous ground. I have read the postings that argue back and forth that the public or private worker produces a product of more value, or works harder, or is over/under paid. I suppose we can argue all day long about whether this action is fair to this particular group or not. I have to seriously ask myself these questions - is this action worth balancing the budget for one biennium? What happens next biennium? Who will be asked to ‘sacrifice’ if things are not any better then? What is the full price to be paid by taking this action? Does the Governor truly understand that price? How will these state employees react? How would you react if you were a member of this group? Would you feel under-appreciated and under-valued? Would you remain motivated to give your best every day? Of course I realize that how one reacts is a personal decision. It is exactly during times like these that my co-workers and myself, need to remain strongly focused on serving the public. However, it is my belief that the actions taken by this Governor are having the opposite effect. These ‘paybacks’ are actually shredding the pride and spirit of my peers and that is something you can not place a dollar value upon. I believe that Governor Strickland has seriously underestimated the true costs of implementing his proposal.

By fearfilled state worker

February 4, 2009 7:41 PM | Link to this

To the Buckeye Institute. You are a bunch self serving lunatics to think that it is alright to publish state worker names, wages, work locations, etc in the name of “transparency”. As state employees, we are required to protect all information with the utmost care to assure that all information is protected in preventing identity theft. Yet you have just set all state workers up for this very event to occur. I certainly hope that you are not receiving tax payer dollars to pay for what you do. And if you are, I want your salaries and names to be published openly by your own hands too. I work hard for my salary, helping people who need assistance from our agency. Where’s the thanks? I do not want someone knocking on my door challenging me or my family because you published my information, correct or not. What exactly is it that you do to help anyone? NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

By michele

February 4, 2009 8:58 PM | Link to this

The figures in the table are not accurate. For an organization who describes itself as,” The Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions is a nonpartisan research and educational institute devoted to individual liberty, economic freedom, personal responsibility and limited government in Ohio.” They did not take the responsibility to check the accuracy of the data tehy published. According to their data an employee being paid $39 per hour earns >400K per year. Get real! If you are going to smear people at least have the honesty & integrity to do it accurately.

By michele

February 5, 2009 5:52 AM | Link to this

BTW: I hope someone with more money than me considers suing both DDN & The Ohio Institute for publishing false data as if it was true! I cannot do it because as a state worker, I do not make nearly as much as their false information says that I do. As a state employee - I am required to check the veracity of the informationI am using. Too bad “Joe public” & news reporters no longer feel compelled to do the same.

By state too

February 5, 2009 6:17 PM | Link to this

Kurt, you are an idiot.You tend to categorize all State workers into some group of overpaid and underworked individuals. While I will admit that they are indeed some folks that don’t carry their share of the load, they are few and far in-between. You will find most State employees work very hard for their pay and care a great deal about the communities they serve. There are even those in the technology sector that work for the government at a much lower rate of pay than they could get in the private sector. They choose to do so for the diversity and challenge that working for government can bring. My suggestion to you would be to stop talking about what you know nothing about, get your jealousy under control and stop blaming others for their successes and feeling sorry for yourself for your own lack of motivation to change your sorry pitiful state.

By Fed Up Taxpayer

February 5, 2009 10:59 PM | Link to this

This state needs to have the kahunas to get rid of the State Union. write your lawmakers - they actually LET state employees join a union. We need to go back to the early 1980s when state employees made significantly LESS than the private sector. State government was a place for eager young people to get their feet wet, get some experience, and move on to a real job in the private sector. Times have changed - we don’t have unions in the private sector. Look at booming economies of SC, NC, VA, GA, AZ - they are very anti union and keep state government small. We cannot afford to support y’all anymore. Time to go get a REAL job - how about workin’ some 60+ hour workweeks like I do?

By Fed Up Taxpayer

February 5, 2009 11:25 PM | Link to this

To State Too and the other State Worker Crybabies: If somone in the private sector is lazy or not pulling their weight that’s their business. But government is different - you take my money by force and then you squander it on useless programs that only help those more useless than yourselves. What I do with my time is my business. It’s my choice to do - its my money. What you do with YOUR time, what you get paid, and what you do is also MY business because I am being forced to pay the bills. Well the citizens of Ohio say NO MORE. Start doing like the rest of us have been doing for years… working a lot more for a lot less. My obervations (and I worked for the state for a long time before leaving for the private sector) was that most spent 75% of their time doing everything and anything but their work. I say you could easily cut 20% of the staff and still get the job done if you get tough with lax attitudes. You come in and work, don’t stop until you clock out. That’s what we are paying you for.

By Duke

February 8, 2009 1:04 PM | Link to this

I weep for you Fed Up Taxpayer and all that share your point of view. You speak of something you truly know nothing about. Unfortunately, there will be plenty of people joining you if you know what I mean!

By Another State Worker

February 11, 2009 8:26 PM | Link to this

As a state worker, I am surprised by what some of you are saying. I work very hard for what money I do make. Sure there are some who don’t work as hard, but you get that at any place of employment not just the state. Everyone talks about how they pay a state workers salary -has it every occure to anyone that we (state workers) pay our share of taxes. In a way, we pay part of our own salary. Until you have walked in my shoes, please don’t try to assume that you know what I do or how hard I work for what pay I get. For the record the information on this site is incorrect. The pay that it lists for myself is incorrect as well as the date of hire. They should check their sources and make sure they are reporting accurate information before going public.

By broken

February 23, 2009 6:24 AM | Link to this

I’ll tell you what, do all of us unemployed folks a favor. Put us to sleep like one of your crippled pets. At least we won’t have to hear our kids cry for the food we can’t buy cause guess what(THERE ARE NO JOBS)Must of us have been tax payers for many years and when we need help - we can’t get it. Then if we have to live on the streets, better than thou types call the law and have you removed. So, I look for it to come to the government putting us down like animals.

By NoBody

February 27, 2009 10:04 AM | Link to this

Don’t forget Government workers still pay taxes just like the private sector.

By BR

March 12, 2009 9:46 AM | Link to this

Since I didn’t see too many people who work for any part of the governement, local, state, or Federal commenting here, I’m wondering how the conclusion is drawn that government workers are paid too much. Having worked for the government at state and local level, I found that i had to buy my car, groceries, electric, gas and everything else at the same place you high priced private enterprise jack asses by yours. Lower your standards and government workers can lower theirs. Remember under Taft, state workers didn’t get a pay rais for two years, did you?

By pandaranol

June 20, 2011 10:55 AM | Link to this

Resserrer de vingt-cinq ou trente sous, ou bien en vogue des accusés, de type véridique et de la taudis un substantiel propriétaire. Saisir bien ce qu’elle fait, et il consentir les voix parler comment au fond cet sieur régner que, dans ses linges blancs.