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Published Monday, Oct. 8, 2012 | 12:16 a.m.
Updated Monday, Oct. 8, 2012 | 8:57 a.m.
CARSON CITY — Faced with rising costs, Gov. Brian Sandoval is backing off his promise to undo pay cuts imposed on state employees last year. Gerald Gardner, his chief of staff, said the governor has issued orders to agency heads to continue the reductions in the proposed 2014-15 budget. Gardner told the Nevada Appeal that Sandoval hasn't given up on efforts to undo the work furloughs, pay cuts, and suspension of merit and longevity pay imposed on state workers. But he said the governor doesn't know if he'll get the money to do so as rising costs eat up revenue ...
But we can find tens of millions of dollars for economic development, $90m more for Apple, an undisclosed amount for yet another new data server in Storey County, $300m for a new UNLV stadium. The list of corporate beneficiaries of Nevada's tax money just goes on and on.
So much for a promise is a promise!!
It is all politics and a Politician playing politics a month away from election time.
Shame on you governor
How very sad. I am a topped out State employee and fully understand the need for cuts in furloughs and the 2.5% pay cut. I want it back as everyone else but this is across the board and all feel it's effect. I do not undertand in any way the step increase freeze which has been in place way before 2011. I see young people with families just starting out who have been frozen at step one barely able to survive jumping to County, City or private sector jobs everyday out of necessity. Once you subtract the 18 to 23% of their pay for PERs retirement (biggest racket going)they have nothing to look forward to and must leave. The most basic incentive for any job anywhere is, with time, you make more money. Keep the furloughs if you must but lets get real, how do you retain any employee anywhere if they never get a raise while watching other employees doing the same job make tens of tousands more a year for doing the same job. My heart goes out to them.
Lets not downplay the Public Employee Reirement System angle either. This is one of the biggest reasons State employee's leave for County jobs in Clark County. State employee's are required by LAW to participate in PERS at their cost. Even an employer paid model requires a deduction in pay that equates to 18% of their pay and 24% of any Police or Fire employee's pay. Clark County pays 100% of their employee's PERS without a sliding payroll scale, add that to a slightly higher payscale to begin with and then how does anyone expect State agencies to retain qualified employee's who cannot even get a time and grade payraise, even from step one, in over 4 years? Why can't State employee's opt out of PERS if they choose?
Just another lie from B.S...
Do more for less pay and benefits; 'we'll make it right later'...A PROMISE from Governor Sandoval.
LIAR!!!
The article and the above posters forgot to also mention rising health insurance premiums for state workers and less coverage.
Sandoval lied? I'm shocked! SHOCKED! Gold miners in the north haul billions in Nevada's riches out of state and its somehow a moral offense to these Republicans to suggest that the miners pay the state for the privilege of ripping holes in our land for gold.
Yet state workers again and again are told to "share the sacrifice". Fine. You want state workers to play at the same level as so called "private sector" workers? Keep the pay cuts. Keep the furloughs.
Just remove the prohibition against state employee unions. After all, "private sector" employees can unionize. And I've heard Republicans time and time again tell state employees how the private sector employee is suffering across Nevada. So level the playing field. You want state employees to bend over and take it in the rear so your mining buddies can keep getting rich? Allow the state employees to have a voice in how your administration treats them, just like private sector employees can.
I have been a state employee for 6 years. I have rolled with the punches, did more with less, and held out hope that eventually the employees would be appreciated. I left the gaming industry making more than I do now, I was excited, and proud to be joining the state of Nevada. Increases in the medical insurance premiums, with a decrease in benefits, 2.5 % pay cuts, furloughs, freezes in merit increases, and frozen longevity are enough to make any employee question why they keep putting up with it. Offices that had no turn over suddenly have employees with YEARS of experience leaving for private sector, or county positions. Knowledge walking out the door that will not be replaced. My husband also works for the state. I have two kids who depend on us. In the last four years I have been forced to sale off property, downsize my home, and slowly watched as my life crumbled below my feet all because of pay cuts, furloughs, increases in PERS, and medical benefits. My only option is to seek employment in the private sector, so I can feed my family. I have lost $6000.00 a year in my own pay due to state employees floating the weight of the deficit. There is no pride in being a state employee anymore. It is time to find other means of fixing the budget. State employees cannot pay their own debts, let alone afford to pay the states debt. Stop spending money of Nevada beautification, and misc buildings that are not a necessity. It is time to give state employees a break. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
I have been to the DMV several times since the economy took a dive and state workers started the furloughs. There was a noticeable difference in wait times from before to after the furloughs. Every employee that helped me did so with a smile and were still helpful despite losing wages. I just wonder, what it will be like next time I go when there really doesnt seem to be an end in sight. You can only whip for so long until it breaks.
And when will something be done about City, County, School District excessive compensation packages? The minimum acceptable level is a modes NEGATIVE COLA WITH PERS REFORM where local government employees PARTICIPATE IN RETIREMENT COSTS--half like private sector and State employees. The State has VETO POWER over local government BUDGETS so there is no reason things can't be corrected.
cotabear: Both you and hubby are state employees and YOU'VE sacrificed? What about the long-term unemployed who pay increasing taxes to cover your pay check? Downsized your home? You have a home. While you're working on your grammar, how's about working on personal responsibility and budgeting. You SHOULD HAVE a 9-10 month emergency fund, serious savings for the kids, life insurance for the kids benefit. I do agree with one implied point of yours: cut spending on building LANDSCAPING--let's go desert landscaping and save year after year after year.
HendersonNV: Now is the time for the public and state employees to INSIST ON PARITY with city, county, school district employees on PERS, health insurance, and on compensation packages. Otherwise, forever and ever after State employees will get less and less while others get more and more. For now, it appears we must CUT compensation for the local governments and stabilize State pay. They might need to change the component percentages of the Sales and Use Taxes to decrease the portions going to cities, counties (CCRT), schools (LSST) and general fund. If anything, they should find a way to cut the overall SUT rate. Enough of all the local add-ons for projects--the local governments get enough to find the money within and stop over-paying employees.