There are more than 30,000 merit-system state employees in Alabama. For those who remain on the state payroll after Gov. Robert Bentley finishes his reduction campaign, be forewarned: You may soon do the job of two or three people.

Mac McArthur, head of the Alabama State Employees Association, told the Associated Press last week that state employees “regularly complain about being overloaded” because of previous staff reductions.

In this instance, we assume state employees are like those in the private sector — some complaints are bunk, some are legitimate.

That said, Bentley isn’t stopping his crusade to trim state government to Third World levels. He’s not proposing layoffs, but he has plans to offer early retirement to state employees and he may follow with similar offers to teachers, with positions filled with younger and less expensive replacements.

McArthur has every reason to worry, as do all Alabamians. Bentley’s view seems to be that there’s no such thing as a state government that’s too small. McArthur’s admonition that the governor must consider the impact of further reductions on state services is warranted, but it’s a waste of time. Bentley’s mind, and that of the state Legislature, is made up.