Bryant vetoes Ed Dept. personnel board exemption
Gov. Phil Bryant has vetoed a measure the Legislature passed that would have extended an exemption from civil service protection for Mississippi Department of Education employees, saying the agency has used the exemption to hand out big raises instead of restructuring for efficiency and improved services.
In his veto message, Bryant said MDE has given 331 raises to 247 employees — some increases of $20,000 or more. He said the agency also has hired 203 new people, with some making as high as $195,000 a year “which is well over the statutory maximum.”
“Since becoming exempt from the rules of the Mississippi State Personnel Board, the Mississippi Department of Education appears to have increased the overall cost of its administrative functions through handsome raises for existing employees and high salaries for new employees,” Bryant said in his veto message.
Clarion Ledger
5/16/16
Magnolia Tribune
