State budget director takes insurance job

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- State budget director Brian Long said he would resign Friday and begin work Sept. 3 overseeing the daily operations of the Transit Casualty insurance company receivership.

Long's job change, which was reported as likely last week, was announced officially Monday by the state Department of Insurance. Cole County Circuit Judge Byron Kinder approved Long's appointment last Friday.

Long has served as Gov. Bob Holden's budget director since Holden took office in January 2001.

Before that, he as an associate commissioner for higher education and an assistant policy director for Gov. Mel Carnahan.

Long stands to make about $196,000 annually in the insurance job, more than double his $90,000 salary as budget director.