According to the Office of Personnel Management, it costs a whole lot. And the cost is on the back of the tax payers.
Aside from the normal cost of government removing snow, OPM chief John Berry claims that the taxpayers are saddled with a $100 Million cost of work not done by employees while off on snow days. Seriously.
ABC News’ Devin Dwyer has the story:
But experts say this month’s storms, with their “historic’” proportions, are ultimately a net negative for taxpayers, who foot the bill for snow cleanup and the lost productivity of more than 230,000 idle federal employees. Official Washington was shut down for a third straight snow day — unprecedented in recent times.
Office of Personnel Management chief John Berry, who decides when to close the federal government, has said each snow day costs taxpayers an estimated $100 million in work government employees don’t do.
Federal workers are still paid for the unanticipated days off due to weather. Other government shutdowns – such as the six-day closure in November 1995 during a budget dispute in Congress – furloughed non-essential workers, thereby saving taxpayers money.
This morning on Don Imus’ Fox Business show, Imus joked that it costs $100 Million to shut government down but it also costs $1 Billion to have government run. That’s not a bad joke.
It is ironic that government officials are running forth with claims of runaway costs to the taxpayers. Where did all this fiscal responsibility suddenly come from? These officials whining about the extreme costs are the same ones that have run us into huge deficits. Ironic, don’t you think?
This post originally appeared at LibertyMovementHQ.com.
