Public workers are already overpaid

Dean Kaneko, Henderson

Saturday, March 17, 2012 | 2 a.m.

In response to Clyde Dinkins’ letter to the editor, “Metro deserves budget increase”:

For the past 20 years, salaries of first responders and other city and county positions have escalated out of control. The labor issue has contributed to the huge budget deficit and our sales tax has increased. When our public servants are among the highest paid in the country and our cost of living is one of the cheapest, there is no logic. Hawaii might be the most expensive and look at its pay scale.

Salaries and benefits should be comparable with states like Arizona, Utah, Idaho and New Mexico. The 15-45 percent pay disparity is disturbing. The initial idea was that public workers were paid 20-25 percent lower than the private sector, but the compensation was the fantastic benefits, pension and retirement after 20-25 years of service.

The past 10 years, some bad apples in many public sectors have tainted the dedicated individuals who serve. A few, like the corrupt politicians, did time, but lately others have gotten way with their actions and are either still employed or were paid well to leave. What happened to Lady Justice? I do have to question why our teachers with a degree start at around $35,000 and first responders are around $55,000-plus.