"Dear State Employees: Today is State Employee Recognition Day and it is my pleasure to have this opportunity to say thank you for your dedicated service to our state and our citizens. Thank you for all that you do to make our state government run effectively and efficiently. Thank you for keeping the people of our state safe, helping them achieve their goals in education and business, and providing vital services each day. I appreciate the work you do and the role your play as we each work together to deliver important services to Missouri citizens. As you continue to improve the efficiency and productivity of state programs and to “do more with less” (As of this date the Springfield Regional Center's: center director, asst. ctr. director, all 4 supervisors, and the remaining service coordinators-down from 33 to 19, are carrying caseloads to make up for the Schafer/Simons outsourcing liability plan) I have proposed pay raises to help reward Missouri's outstanding workforce and reduce turnover in critical state positions. (Bernie Simons, MRDD, plans the reduction 284 Service coordinator positions...MACDDS minutes) This is why my budget for the next fiscal year includes a three percent raise for state employees. This is in addition to the three percent pay raise given to employees last fiscal year and four percent the previous fiscal year, which together equals a raise of more than 10 percent in the last three years. This year's budget also includes $5 million to provide pay raises for critical state positions with high turnover rates(“…MRDD Division Director Bernie Simons is the ideologically rigid outsourcing maven who has made the privatization of state mental health services a first-order priority. Simons has consistently agitated for the firing of current state-employed caregivers and their replacement with temporary and employment agency staff… Missouri has previously reported on Simons' propensity for selling off large chunks of the state's function to outside contractors. Earlier this year, Simons had attempted to bid out Mental Health "consulting services" with an RFP that was carefully tailored to give intrinsic advantage to a government contractor called The Columbus Organization, with which he was previously employed and from which he still receives compensation…Fired up! Missouri 2007”) and is the third year in a row we have provided increases for critical state positions. (Jeff Grosvenor, MRDD—DMH analysis showed the percentage rate would be 18% to be returned to the Trust Fund to make up the $5.5 Million SHORTFALL DMH will encounter when it NO LONGER provide any case management.” From MACDDS minutes on line). We have also worked to protect health and retirement benefits, (Schafer said outside groups can hire workers more economically than the state. Those savings largely come from lower employee benefits, compared to the state's expensive health and retirement plans, he said. Post – Dispatch 11/8/07”). securing $30 million to support future retiree health care costs, $431 million to provide health care benefits for state employees and retirees, and $398 million to fund retirement benefits for state employees. As the General Assembly works to create a budget that lives within our state’s means, I am grateful for your commitment to our state and our customers. Please know that the people of Missouri and I truly appreciate the work you do and your continued commitment to provide exemplary public service. Sincerely, Matt Blunt"