WBRZ - Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE - State Treasurer John Kennedy says the state workforce has been cut by about 7 percent over the past six years, but state employment costs have risen $650 million.

The treasurer says proof is in a state audit made public in February. He says the only solution is reorganizing a top-heavy government and making deeper cuts.

Commissioner of Administration Paul Rainwater disagrees. He says the state workforce is the lowest it has been in 20 years. Rainwater says the cuts total about 12 percent of the workforce, saving taxpayers more than $1 billion. He says cuts have been strategic to avoid problems with critical services.