Posted on 01/09/2009 2:36:28 PM PST by SmithL
California will close most state offices on the first and third Fridays each month starting in February, padlocking DMV outlets and other services while reducing state worker pay to help survive a massive budget problem, according to a state Department of Personnel Administration memo.
Only offices deemed critical, such as state hospitals and prisons, will remain open under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's twice monthly furlough plan. Employees at those state operations will still be required to take two days off each month at different times. State parks generate revenue and will not close, but employees will have to take two days off each month, said Lynelle Jolley, spokeswoman for DPA.
The uniform measure is intended to make the furlough plan more manageable for the state and save money on utilities at state buildings. Unless the state grants waivers to DMV drivers will have two fewer days each month to take tests or register their vehicles.
"Certainly shutting down state services for two days a month will have an effect, but we are faced with few options to keep the state solvent," said Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear. "The governor does not want to make these cuts in state programs, he does not want to raise taxes, but we have a responsibility to lead this state through a financial crisis."
The first shutdown would take place Feb. 6, and state workers are expected to stay home that day unless told otherwise. Agency secretaries plan to send memos to employees this afternoon explaining how the changes will be implemented.
"One reason to do first and third Fridays was so we could obtain cost savings by also shutting down facilities," McLear said. "We asked agency secretaries for input beforehand, and the consensus was to do it on Fridays.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Now that they aren't spending on getting work done, they should consider cutting spending on things that don't work!
Ditto that....waiting for the heart break stories on the news.
"Women and minorities hardest hit"
Watch for a flood of state worker retirements.
There are a lot of state employees who are at a compensation near their retirement pay level. They will make more money retiring, and the choice is a non-brainer.
This most certainly is anticipated, and may even be a desired consequence of the furlough ruling.
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And no one noticed.
Interesting if many do retire....but wouldnt that cost CAL taxpayers as much...even more money?
When all those people retire...the retirement fund will be replenished. Since there will be fewer workers....that means taxes will have to be raised to keep retirement payments coming in...since there will not be as many contributions from, or on behalf, of current employees
All state and local governments will have problems until they drasitcally cut most non-essential administrative/executive positions...and reduce the salaries of any remaining admin/exec. This is the besy way to cut without drastically affecting services and raising taxes
Good Start. Now only 28 days per month to go......
And still, no services will be lost. Just getting vacation time off the books.
You beat me to it!!
Arnie was nice in letting them have every-other-Friday off (i.e., a 3-day weekend.)
Hopefully they’ll fire the straglers who try to stretch it to 4-days by taking the Monday off as well..
Actually, a 9.2% “cut” -— but it has no effect on benefits, according to what the State in all seriousness calls its “personnel” professionals. Assuming a benefits burden of ~45%, the overall savings to the state will be lower...
If, on the other hand, all departments were asked to reduce staff (by not filling vacancies) ...
They’d better be careful about doing that. People might not notice the difference.
Ler’s see...overpaid state workers have to take 2 Fridays off each month. Sweet deal.
Of course, the savings resulting from shutdown and furlough days will allow new programs to be funded....
Need to cut benefits to illegal alines. That will save $14 billion a year.
Basically they all got an extra 5 weeks vacation per year.
I remember when the mail was delivered twice a day. No one misses it now.
It’s a start.
Sad thing is, there are good people hurt by this--and what is "this"? It's the irresponsibility of the government.
I know one of those good people, and it's rough that a good person like that is having to scramble because of the poor management of the government, promising more than they can deliver.
Plus, the taxpayers of California and America have dumped a LOT of money into the government, and it's ridiculous that these services have to be cut before illegals are cut off, etc.
I recall when the tollbooth collectors on the PA Turnpike went on strike...so more people signed up for the EZ-Pass system, and there was less need for toll collectors.
Amen
"Due to the ongoing financial crisis, let's start rationing *government*; more specifically, bureaucracy."
I vote that we start with the Dept. of Rendundancy Department!
Cheers!
45% may be too high, but 15-20% is WAY too low! (Of course, I’m including the usual benefits such as medical, life insurance, pension, savings, etc. as well as things a lot of people don’t think to count such as vacation, holidays, paid sick leave, paid parental leave, scheduled OT, etc.).
You must work with what the State in all its earnestness calls its personnel professionals, because you’ve put your finger right on it! I did personnel/industrial relations work in private industry for more than 30 years and we used to howl with laughter regularly at what the State Personnel people considered prudent personnel policies and practices...
In fairness to them, I’m certain they get regular “help and advice” from the clowns in the legislature, but I really don’t understand how they can have any pride in what they do.
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