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Friday, Dec. 14, 2012 | 4:52 p.m.
Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval speaks to the Las Vegas Sun editorial board Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012.
CARSON CITY — Despite lavishing praise on the performance of state workers, Gov. Brian Sandoval won’t say whether his budget will include pay and benefit increases for 17,000 state employees.
State worker pay and benefits have been cut significantly in the state’s past two budget cycles.
“The budget is an ongoing process,” Sandoval said, adding that he would not reveal details until his State of the State message in January.
Restoration of pay and benefits was not included the list released by the state budget office Friday of special fiscal requests sought by state agencies.
Sandoval said this week he intends to expand Medicaid for low-income people in connection with the federal health care legislation. And he has disclosed that tax cuts for small business will be included in his budget.
Asked if he would put money where his mouth is in praising state workers, Sandoval would only say, “That’s one item that is being looked at.”
Aldo Vennetilli of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Workers, isn’t optimistic. “He’s (Sandoval) is going to put the screws to them.”
He said the pay and benefits of state workers have fallen 30 to 40 percent in the past several legislative sessions. And 1,600 positions in state government are being kept vacant.
Sandoval and the 2011 Legislature approved a 2.5 percent reduction in wages and six unpaid furlough days a year for state workers. Also eliminated were automatic pay increases for some employees and longevity pay.
The state Public Employees Retirement Board in November voted to increase by 1 percent the premium paid by state and local government workers to the pension program. The health insurance program that covers state workers has not asked for any increase in premiums.
In October, Sandoval he said he would try to reverse wage reductions and furloughs state workers have shouldered since 2009. But he said he never promised to restore lost benefits.
All of those that serve the public have shared the pain of this down economy. I have more than 20 years service and make less now than I did 6 years ago. The cost of living, however, has gone way up.
We do get it, money does not grow on trees. Still, Governor, we lose many, many fine and talented persons to a dollar or two more an hour, then have to recruit and train all over. This is not a service to the public. For those of us who topped out, we have little to look forward to besides the potential of retirement. We don't serve for the money, we serve as we truly believe in the concept of public service.
Raises aren't for those about to retire, those dollars are not going to keep me past my date. They are to insure that when I do leave, you have someone who has the time in service and experience to fill my shoes. You cannot simply hire someone from the private sector, who has a career in making a profit, into a position that must meet expectations of the general public as a whole and the requirements of law.
We get a great deal of bad press, as the spotlight is always on our mistakes, not our achievements. We get a lot of public scorn, as we are seen as fat cats who do nothing but lap up the public tax money for as little work as we can do. You know better, Governor Sandoval. We do understand there are many needs and only so many funds to go around, but do consider the future of the programs, the ability to run them efficiently and effectively both now and for years to come.
Restoration of step raises and longevity pay will go a long, long way towards insuring a stable and effective work force.
No step increases for 4 years. 20%
Insurance premium up over last 6 years. 10%
Furlough. 5%
2.5% pay cut last legislature. 2.5%
State Workers - NO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS
State unemployment 11%
The cities and counties have fleeced this state and agreed to outlandish contracts, that you the tax payer are stuck with. How about some equality. How many firefighters make more than the Directors of State Agencies? TransparentNevada.com
Gov. Brian Sandoval's office was formally notified of the software the AFL-CIO fire union uses to quadruple salaries and pensions .
as were the city and county commissioners and countless other agencies including Catherine Cortez Masto.
yet nothing will ever be done to stop the fraud or reverse the hundreds of millions of dollars in tax payer money being stolen from the public .
too many in office have the AFL-CIO fire union to thank for their elected position, and don't want to lose their future lobbyist job or other perks which follow once they are gone.
the public has not yet begun to feel the impact of trying to fund the pensions of just a few hundred firefighters. when only a handful so far have even retired who have overinflated their salaries so they can collect 4 times the pension they should legally receive .
plus each firefighter gets a bonus 6% cost of living raise every 4 years after they have retired .
all this ,yet the policing agencies and public officials you depend on to stop it, all turn a blind eye and ignore what is really going on, hoping the AFL-CIO union will come up with a new tax, hidden in some school bill or other magic hero legislation to pitch to the public. anything that will make the public forget how much they are being ripped off.
how good is the public taxpayers memory on this issue ?
Mr. Ryan: What about the Legislative process of approving the budgets for the cities, counties, school districts--that's where the overwhelmingly excessive compensation is. State salaries, overall, are a bit high and they have had some cuts recently--so perhaps static levels for state employees is appropriate. Of concern, remains, that State employees (and others) get annual step increases until they top out of the pay scales--unlike federal employees who must wait up to 3 years (or "merit" performance) for a step increase. FIXING STEPS could be helpful, very helpful.
No Collective Bargaining for any PERS employee! A class system for public employees has only divided our State.
Sandoval won't talk about state workers' benefits, but his budget includes $100 million for economic development give-aways to businesses. He's business-friendly but contemptuous toward workers.
Mr. Ryan: what constitutes the alleged 30-40% reduction in pay and benefits for State employees??? Too many people just keep saying stuff with no foundation. I've heard of the 6% temporary cut / shorter work weeks. So are "you" saying that a few years of no COL's and such is 30-40%? If so, that means the overall compensation is much more excessive than we already thought.
Roslenda:Apparently you have not researched the difference in pay between state workers and their counterparts. In my trade I get paid less than a person doing the same job in the private sector. State workers are carrying the load for the whole state. I would like to see an across the board comparison job by job between state workers and the private sector.