Number of state workers on the rise

BOSTON—The state has added about 1,900 new workers in the past year even as Gov. Deval Patrick warns of possible budget cuts to help deal with a $1 billion deficit.

The Boston Herald reports that since July 2007, the agencies that oversee state prisons and highways have had the most new hires. Spokespeople for the Correction Department and the Highway Department defended the hires as necessary.

Paul Dietl, head of the state's Human Resources Department, says the current $5.3 billion payroll "is consistent with previous years."

But Michael Widmer of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation says the flurry of new hires is "very troubling" given economic uncertainties.

Jim Stergios of the Pioneer Institute says the state's budget-funded work force has risen over the past five years by more than 5,500.