The state of Michigan owns some prime real estate in downtown Lansing, and a whole lot of office space overall.

Right now the state owns approximately 7 million square feet of space and leases another 5 million square feet.

"On the state-owned side we're looking at $90 million a year for those facilities. On the leased side we're looking at $80 million a year," said Kurt Weiss, with the Michigan Dept. of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB).

But Weiss says the state has gone from around 63,000 employees to around 50,000 employees in the last decade, leaving a lot of that space either empty or not well used.

"About 20 to 25 percent of state office space is underutilized, so we need to find a better way to use that space," said Weiss.

That's why Governor Snyder is looking at ways to save on both space and money when it comes to state employee offices. A committee within DTMB is studying the issue and expected to give the Governor a full plan and report by early next year.

A cost-saving solution the state is already looking at is implementing a concept called "hotel-ing", creating work spaces not assigned to anyone specifically where state employees can plug in and go as needed.

"Many of our state departments have jobs where employees don't need a desk and a computer anymore," said Weiss.

Meaning far less space needed and far less taxpayer money being used to pay for empty cubicles.