Politics
Politics

After years of cutbacks, state of Georgia hiring again

By James Salzer
July 25, 2016

A record state budget that took effect earlier this month is giving officials the chance to fill hundreds of jobs after years of worker cutbacks.

Between 2008, the year before the recession began hammering tax collections, and 2015, the number of state employees dropped by about 12,500, according to data from the state Office of Planning and Budget.

Agency officials say the new staffers are designed to help cut down on long lines at driver's license offices, to reduce backlogs at crime labs, to cut caseloads for overworked child protective services staffers, to give the state the manpower to investigate police shootings, to provide more teachers in schools with growing enrollment, and to improve the system of signing up Georgians for government benefits.

Some lawmakers say that the cutbacks have made state government leaner and forced agencies to focus on what they were originally designed to do. Reducing the size of government is a popular message in many state House and Senate districts, and some are skeptical that all the new jobs are necessary.

Read more about state hiring at myajc.com.

About the Author

James Salzer has covered state government and politics in Georgia since 1990. He previously covered politics and government in Texas and Florida. He specializes in government finance, budgets, taxes, campaign finance, ethics and legislative history

Follow James Salzer on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

With the closure of the labor and delivery unit in St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia, expectant mothers will instead be directed to deliver at St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens, about 45 miles away. (Photo Illustration / Getty Images)

Credit: Getty Images

Medicaid cuts ahead prompt Lavonia hospital to shutter childbirth unit

St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital was already struggling. Funding cuts from Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act tipped the scales.

LISTEN

Two major announcements shake up the race for governor in Georgia

The Politically Georgia team discuss two seismic shakeups to the governor's race: Geoff Duncan and Brad Raffensperger.

OPINION

US House Republicans stop time — again — to avoid votes on Trump’s tariffs

Under federal law, once a president declares an emergency and institutes tariffs, Congress can quickly force repeal votes, with action required in 15 days.

The Latest

Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (seen here at a Georgia Chamber Congressional Luncheon in August), announced he'd be running for governor, Wednesday Sept. 17, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

LISTEN

Two major announcements shake up the race for governor in Georgia

OPINION

US House Republicans stop time — again — to avoid votes on Trump’s tariffs

Medicaid cuts ahead prompt Lavonia hospital to shutter childbirth unit

Featured

Julian Conley listens during opening statements in his trial at Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. The 25-year-old is accused of fatally shooting 8-year-old Secoriea Turner in July 2020. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com

Police abandoned area where 8-year-old was shot, detective testifies

The testimony came as trial began for Julian Conley, the man accused of fatally shooting the child near the burned-down Wendy’s where Rayshard Brooks was killed weeks earlier.

Emory giving free tuition to students from families making under $200,000

Starting next academic year, Emory University will be tuition-free for undergraduates whose families earn less than $200,000, a move that could help hundreds of students.

Weekend Predictions: Another winning weekend for Falcons, Georgia Tech?

Weekend Predictions is off to a hot start. But will wins by the Atlanta Falcons, Georgia Tech and Georgia State keep this streak alive?