A couple of my friends are in low-level positions with the state government. At least in their cases, I can say that their offices run so lean that cost-cutting

A couple of my friends are in low-level positions with the state government. At least in their cases, I can say that their offices run so lean that cost-cutting attempts from higher up just lead to worse service and conflicting (or outright illegal) directives, which encourage rule-breaking of a sort that is sure to eventually bite them in the ass in expensive ways.