SAINT PAUL, MINN—On Tuesday, Representative Sarah Anderson, R-Plymouth, Chair of the House State Government Finance Committee, sent a letter to Governor Mark Dayton’s Chief of Staff Jaime Tincher requesting that she specify office policies related to severance pay. The questions come after a report emerged last week revealing that Governor Dayton paid nearly $80,000 in severance pay to three top appointees who voluntarily resigned their positions.
“Taxpayers are footing the bill for tens of thousands of dollars in payouts to political appointees, and even more concerning, these agreements were made behind closed doors,” said Rep. Anderson. “Minnesotans expect transparency in state government, and that is why I am requesting Governor Dayton’s office specify their severance package policy and explain where that money came from in our state budget.”
The full letter reads as follows:
September 27, 2016
Jaime Tincher
Office of Governor Mark Dayton
20 West 12th Street
116 Veterans Service Building
Saint Paul, MN 55155
via electronic delivery
Dear Chief of Staff Tincher,
As Chair of the House State Government Finance Committee, I’m writing to request a response to several questions I have about your office’s policies following the publication of a story by APM Reports regarding severance pay to political appointees.
- Under what circumstances is severance offered by the Governor (not related to unused sick or vacation time) available to state employees?
- Can you provide the administration’s written policy on when severance is offered to state employees by the Governor?
- When the Governor offers severance to state employees, does it include health or retirement benefits?
- How is the cash value of severance offered to state employees by the Governor determined?
- When the Governor offers severance to state employees, is it conditional on the employee signing a written agreement?
- If the severance is conditional on a written and signed agreement, could you provide a copy of what that agreement is?
- Does the Governor offer severance to state employees who voluntarily or involuntarily leave state service?
- Where in the state budget does the money for severance offered by the Governor come from?
- Why was there no salary-based severance provision included in the administration’s Managerial Plan proposal to the Legislature?
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to your prompt response.
Sincerely,
Representative Sarah Anderson
Chair, State Government Finance Committee