Dayton’s diversity priority means his staff is growing

Gov. Mark Dayton’s priority to diversify the state government workforce is proving a major undertaking for his office, which claims to be putting its money where its mouth is — money that has increased the office’s budget in recent years.

Since taking office in 2011, Dayton’s staff has increased from 32 to 43, and with it, a budget increase near $2 million. In April, Dayton’s office hired James C. Burroughs II as its chief inclusion officer, charged with guiding the governor in appointing and hiring people who better reflect cultural, racial and gender differences throughout the state.

For the 2018-19 biennium, however, the governor’s office wants to add another three employees but predicts a 3 percent decrease in spending. While payroll expenses are predominantly funded through the General Fund, other agencies falling under the governor’s purview shoulder some of the cost.

“Every year, there are new things that I look at,” Dayton’s Chief of Staff Jaime Tincher told the House State Government Finance Committee Thursday. “Really, what I’m looking at every day is how we are best serving the needs of the governor and the lieutenant governor and their issues.”

WATCH House State Government Finance Committee discusses Gov. Dayton's proposed budget

Dayton’s legal staff has increased too, Tincher said, to improve extraditions and deal with data practices requests.

“When I look at the office, I am always trying to figure out, ‘How can we be more responsive, faster, more efficient, respond to the things Minnesotans are asking us to provide service on?’” Tincher said, adding later, “Anytime I’m going to have the ability to add staff that are answering phones, answering emails, getting things resolved for Minnesotans faster – that’s what we’re going to do.”

The eight-employee increase, Rep. Jim Nash (R-Waconia) said, is “a pretty sizeable jump.”

Racially diverse judicial appointments have increased 89 percent under Dayton’s watch, and women judges have jumped 31 percent. Racially diverse boards and commissions appointments have increased by 49.4 percent, according to the governor’s staff – including a 96.4 percent surge in African-American board members.