The Patrick administration filled more than 1,300 state jobs this year - including a librarian for cons, a painter for hospitals and a “game biologist” - in a hiring frenzy that has watchdogs questioning whether the governor has a tight grip on hiring in the face of a dire fiscal crisis.A Herald payroll analysis also indicates scores of the lucky job-seekers also gave generously to Gov. Deval Patrick’s election campaign.
The hiring flurry is alarming state budget observers who slammed the governor for dishing out plum posts - including 20 that carry salaries of $100,000 or more - with no apparent rhyme or reason.
“In the middle of this fiscal meltdown there should be a close scrutiny of new hires, and that doesn’t seem to be reflected here,” said Michael Widmer, executive director of the business-based Massachusetts Taxpayers Association.
The list of new hires obtained by the Herald shows jobs spread out across executive offices:
A $78,000-a-year teacher and a $47,400-a-year librarian for the Department of Correction, two of 200 prison employees hired;
A $31,000-a-year painter for the Department of Public Health, which also added a physician specialist for $210,500 - the top-paid hire this year;
A $44,307-a-year game biologist for the Department of Fish and Game;
And a $206,000-a-year commissioner of higher education and a $117,000 elementary education administrator.
In all, the state has added $46 million in new hires from January to November, the Herald review shows.
The governor’s aides defended their actions, noting that the administration has since laid off 236 of the recent hires.
UPDATE: More from the Globe.
