State spending for temporary employees triples

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- State spending on temporary employees has increased more than 300-percent since the 1992 fiscal year.<br><br>A report to a legislative task force says state government spent 103 (M)

Thursday, December 16th 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- State spending on temporary employees has increased more than 300-percent since the 1992 fiscal year.

A report to a legislative task force says state government spent 103 (M) million dollars for temporary employees in the fiscal year that ended June 30th, 1992. The report says spending increased to 436 (M) million dollars for the fiscal year that ended June 30th,
1999.

The task force is investigating whether a statewide hiring freeze imposed in 1992 caused the increase in temporary employees.

Temporary employees include everyone from secretaries to lawyers and accountants.

Inflation increased by 20 percent from 1992 through 1999.

The reports suggests the state end the hiring freeze for permanent employees.

Task force leader Representative James H- Dunegan says the hiring freeze is up to the governor.