More than half of the 30-plus state employees reporting to Gov. Mike Braun’s office are paid by other state agencies, according to an Indiana Capital Chronicle review of State Personnel Department records and the Indiana Transparency Portal. Of the roughly $3.9 million spent on pay for the 33 employees identified, other agencies funded nearly $2.3 million — or 58% of the cost.
Concerns and Criticisms
Critics fear the arrangement creates confusion and conflicts. Braun’s administration, however, says it is simply continuing an established practice. The Governor’s Office does work that spans across all agencies, and rather than assessing agencies a fee or charging back for this, the historical practice has been for certain staff within the Governor’s Office to be paid directly by the agencies themselves.
Previous administrations had operations directors based in the governor’s office that worked with other agencies — and who were paid by one of them. Braun’s administration eliminated those positions in its reorganization of state government, but has continued the practice of assigning head count to those other agencies, according to the governor’s office.
The office’s annual budget is $3.2 million — down from $3.39 million in the prior two-year spending plan, after Braun instituted mandatory cuts. Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis, expressed concerns about the arrangement, stating, ‘I think the governor needs to get a nice, clear line of communication from top to bottom. He has way too many … layers of authority, and now he’s confused their wallets.’
Agency Funding and Salaries
The Bureau of Motor Vehicles pays Ava Hassel, an executive assistant to Chief of Staff Josh Kelley, and spokeswoman Megan Smaltz. The latter earns the third-highest salary in the BMV, and about $20,000 more annually than BMV spokesman Greg Dunn. The Indiana Department of Transportation, meanwhile, compensates Senior Policy Adviser Adam Battalio — who, at $180,000, makes more than INDOT Commissioner Lyndsay Quist’s $175,000.
Another special adviser role was added for former Commerce Secretary David Adams, who is on a six-month, $90,000 contract — paid by the Indiana Economic Development Corp. — to complete the next phase of the $1 billion life sciences initiative Braun announced this spring. Other agencies in the mix include the departments for administration, education, environmental management, health, natural resources, state personnel, and veterans.
Original reporting: 93.1 WIBC (Indianapolis) — read the source article.
