I know that state employee often get a bad wrap for being lazy. I am not here to discuss how hard they work.

 

But how the state government is trying to balance the budget on the backs of their employees.

 

1. Employees will not get a cost of living raise this year.

2. Insurance prem. will increase.

3. Now 6 day fuloughs is a nice way of saying pay cut.

 

Now many will say, at least they have a job. I agree with that statement.

 

But the problem I have is how our state government continues to miss use tax dollars.

 

1. Spent millions on the past legislative session and didn't pass a Balanced budget.

2. Had to spend 1/4 of million dollars on a special session.

3. The people that get paid to spend the money properly dont have their salaries touched.

 

Isn't it time for term limits at the state and federal levels. Because people like Shaddy Stumbo and Loud mouth WIlliams have spent to much time wasting our tax dollars.

When you think of the money our state government sticks up a hogs rump this is ridiculous. The legislative branch is excluded of course.

All of those items you list are happening to lots of folks in private industry.

People in the private sector are being forced to take 5, 10, 15, 20, 25% pay cuts. I hate to see anybody lose ground in life, but, perhaps the people that have voted to support this system need to feel the pain that the private sector started feeling 20-30 years ago.

If one suffers then all should suffer, right?

 

I'm certain state employees will be able to overcome the furloughs. I can't go along with the comparison to the private sector though. If a private company cuts pay to employees because the owner purchased a multimillion dollar yacht, that's jut the way it goes. It's called freedom and personal liberty. If state government is purchasing multimillion dollar yachts (on someone else's dime) on a regular basis while continuing to hire employees for political gain, then wants to cut employees pay...It don't make sense.

If one suffers then all should suffer, right?

 

I'm certain state employees will be able to overcome the furloughs. I can't go along with the comparison to the private sector though. If a private company cuts pay to employees because the owner purchased a multimillion dollar yacht, that's jut the way it goes. It's called freedom and personal liberty. If state government is purchasing multimillion dollar yachts (on someone else's dime) on a regular basis while continuing to hire employees for political gain, then wants to cut employees pay...It don't make sense.

 

 

Furloughs are coming due to a severe budget crisis due to the economy not producing nearly enough tax revenue for the state. Its really that simple.

If one suffers then all should suffer, right?

 

I'm certain state employees will be able to overcome the furloughs. I can't go along with the comparison to the private sector though. If a private company cuts pay to employees because the owner purchased a multimillion dollar yacht, that's jut the way it goes. It's called freedom and personal liberty. If state government is purchasing multimillion dollar yachts (on someone else's dime) on a regular basis while continuing to hire employees for political gain, then wants to cut employees pay...It don't make sense.

 

I don't understand this post at all. Can you explain what you mean again?

If one suffers then all should suffer, right?

 

I'm certain state employees will be able to overcome the furloughs. I can't go along with the comparison to the private sector though. If a private company cuts pay to employees because the owner purchased a multimillion dollar yacht, that's jut the way it goes. It's called freedom and personal liberty. If state government is purchasing multimillion dollar yachts (on someone else's dime) on a regular basis while continuing to hire employees for political gain, then wants to cut employees pay...It don't make sense.

 

So are you saying that governor and other state leaders should be allowed to mismanage tax dollars?

So are you saying that governor and other state leaders should be allowed to mismanage tax dollars?

 

Not at all. When government wastes money it's the taxpayers money they are wasting, not theirs. I just find it funny that they furlough workers while at the same time hire new ones.

 

I don't understand this post at all. Can you explain what you mean again?

 

Just trying to say that state government acts like furloughing workers is the only way to save 24 million dollars. I find that odd when there is always a bridge to nowhere or some kind of project that Makes no sense that is going to cost way more than 24 million. Also tying to say that private business wasting money and cutting workers pay cannot be compared to government doing the same thing. Private business owners are wasting their own money and not money they confiscate from others.

 

Furloughs are coming due to a severe budget crisis due to the economy not producing nearly enough tax revenue for the state. Its really that simple.

 

If there is such a "severe" budget crisis due to the economy, why are they still hiring employees (eleven in our district in the last three months alone)? If you are in a budget crisis at home do you eat hamburger helper while buying steak to freeze? Cut bloated waste and stop hiring new (political) employees before furloughing sate workers for six days a year. It really is that simple.

 

People in the private sector are being forced to take 5, 10, 15, 20, 25% pay cuts. I hate to see anybody lose ground in life, but, perhaps the people that have voted to support this system need to feel the pain that the private sector started feeling 20-30 years ago.

 

Are you saying that if you don't work in the private sector you "support this system"?

Not at all. When government wastes money it's the taxpayers money they are wasting, not theirs. I just find it funny that they furlough workers while at the same time hire new ones.

 

 

 

Just trying to say that state government acts like furloughing workers is the only way to save 24 million dollars. I find that odd when there is always a bridge to nowhere or some kind of project that Makes no sense that is going to cost way more than 24 million. Also tying to say that private business wasting money and cutting workers pay cannot be compared to government doing the same thing. Private business owners are wasting their own money and not money they confiscate from others.

 

 

 

If there is such a "severe" budget crisis due to the economy, why are they still hiring employees (eleven in our district in the last three months alone)? If you are in a budget crisis at home do you eat hamburger helper while buying steak to freeze? Cut bloated waste and stop hiring new (political) employees before furloughing sate workers for six days a year. It really is that simple.

 

 

 

Are you saying that if you don't work in the private sector you "support this system"?

 

You are dead wrong on the first quote. Each cabinet must REDUCE the number of non-merit positions this year. Which makes you dead wrong on the last quote as well. Each agency got a specific dollar figure that they must meet in retirements or lay-offs of merit workers. PLUS the non-merit workers are part of the furloughs as well.

 

FWIW please try to refrain from casting stones on non-merit employees. My wife is non-merit, and I think Coach Buckett will vouch for this, she might be the least political person I know. She has been in the same non-merit position through the last three administrations (Patton - D, Fletcher - R, and Beshear -D).

You are dead wrong on the first quote. Each cabinet must REDUCE the number of non-merit positions this year. Which makes you dead wrong on the last quote as well. Each agency got a specific dollar figure that they must meet in retirements or lay-offs of merit workers. PLUS the non-merit workers are part of the furloughs as well.

 

FWIW please try to refrain from casting stones on non-merit employees. My wife is non-merit, and I think Coach Buckett will vouch for this, she might be the least political person I know. She has been in the same non-merit position through the last three administrations (Patton - D, Fletcher - R, and Beshear -D).

 

Sorry ACE, but you are the one that's "dead wrong". There have been several hired in my district in the last few months. I guess you will have to continue to call me wrong because it's obvious you think I'm a liar. I am not going to name them on here but I personally know three hired in district 11 (Transportation).

 

Please try to refrain from putting words in my mouth. Where did I mention Non-merit employees pertaining to ANYTHING? I didn't cast stones at anyone other than those that are wasting taxpayer dollars.

 

It's just like you to tie the "political" hire to every single state employee when you know darn well that is not what I meant. It would be very foolish to think that many (NOT ALL) state employees are not local political hires

 

I'm on here defending state workers and you get all bunched over it. If you don't think new workers are being hired, you, my friend are the one that's dead wrong.

1. Employees will not get a cost of living raise this year.

2. Insurance prem. will increase.

3. Now 6 day fuloughs is a nice way of saying pay cut.

 

None of this is out of line or different than what is going on in the private sector.

 

Last 3 years:

Raises - average less than 1%. Almost nothing.

Insurance premuims rising 10% annually.

Furloughs are common.

 

So what is happening to state employees is a mirror of what is happening in the private market. With one exception. Almost all private companies have dumped 'defined benefits' retirement. Government have not done this yet. And I do mean 'yet'. This is the ticking time bomb. Retirement plans by government entities are not realistic and are not sustainable. Defined benefits are not viable. 20 or 25 years and out is not viable. The common practice of double dipping is a downright abuse and further deepens the intrinsic problem.

None of this is out of line or different than what is going on in the private sector.

 

Last 3 years:

Raises - average less than 1%. Almost nothing.

Insurance premuims rising 10% annually.

Furloughs are common.

 

So what is happening to state employees is a mirror of what is happening in the private market. With one exception. Almost all private companies have dumped 'defined benefits' retirement. Government have not done this yet. And I do mean 'yet'. This is the ticking time bomb. Retirement plans by government entities are not realistic and are not sustainable. Defined benefits are not viable. 20 or 25 years and out is not viable. The common practice of double dipping is a downright abuse and further deepens the intrinsic problem.

 

:thumb: Although the double-dipping issue has been addressed.

 

As a CPA, I deal with various states' governmental agencies all over the country. Without a doubt the most dismal, incompetent and truly pathetic agency I've dealt with on a state level is the Kentucky Cabinet for Workforce Development (the unemployment folks). I always feel guilty when I have to call that agency because I can tell I just woke somebody up (not kidding). If 1/2 of the employees in the entire Ky Revenue Cabinet were fired, I'd bet nobody would ever even notice unless they were standing in an unemployment line.

None of this is out of line or different than what is going on in the private sector.

 

Last 3 years:

Raises - average less than 1%. Almost nothing.

Insurance premuims rising 10% annually.

Furloughs are common.

 

So what is happening to state employees is a mirror of what is happening in the private market. With one exception. Almost all private companies have dumped 'defined benefits' retirement. Government have not done this yet. And I do mean 'yet'. This is the ticking time bomb. Retirement plans by government entities are not realistic and are not sustainable. Defined benefits are not viable. 20 or 25 years and out is not viable. The common practice of double dipping is a downright abuse and further deepens the intrinsic problem.

 

Great post. State workers are now feeling what those in the private sector feel. After witnessing the "efficiency" of many state run offices I have more then a little trouble feeling to sorry for any state workers.

 

I did get a small raise this year (3%, how much will cost of living go up?) but my company reduced the amount they will match in our 401K and the cost of my insurance went up. I'm still at least 15 years from retiring (and that's if I can accumulate enough to be able to afford to retire) yet if I had worked for a state agency for my entire worklife I would be just a few years from retirement with a fully defined pension.

 

Sorry if my lack of sympathy offends anyone.

I think things are being exposed as never before. Perhaps this is what Obama meant by "transparency".