Colorado lawmaker calls for furloughs

By Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published February 10, 2009 at 5:58 p.m.

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February 10, 2009

6:19 p.m.

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PleadTheFifth writes:

"the savings would only be around $2.5 million a day."

"only $2.5 million a day" that adds up in a hurry! Sounds like our leaders consider this chump change? God help us...
February 10, 2009

6:32 p.m.

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The_Punnisher writes:

He is targeting the wrong people. The Legislature ( and Congresscritters ) need a date with a rope.

THEN the US Citizen can go after the other people helping create this mess...
February 10, 2009

6:45 p.m.

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Sundog writes:

I heard on the radio today that California is proposing minimum wage level for its state workers.
February 10, 2009

6:50 p.m.

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SFCPAUL writes:

Guillotine!! Guillotine!!! Let's make this a fun revolution!!!!!
February 10, 2009

7:21 p.m.

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expatman writes:

Punnisher, you sound like (gasp) an anarchist. Mob rule always works so well.
February 10, 2009

7:23 p.m.

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jfkdem47 writes:

Idiotic idea.

Make working people give up income, so that overpaid blowhards can keep getting overpaid.
February 10, 2009

7:52 p.m.

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SacTown writes:

I work for the Governor's Office of Emergency Services in CA. Yes, last Friday was our first Furlough Friday. Arnold Schwarzenegger put this into effect as of Feb. 1st. We have to take off every 1st and 3rd. Friday of each month until the end of June, 2010. It is about a 10% pay cut each month. It even went to court, but the judge sided with the Governor, so here we are. To all of you who work for the State of CO. Think of it as a mental health day. That's all we can really do. We get two three day weekends a months! They always pick on us state workers, don't they? Especially around budget signing time. In CA it is never passed on time. Infact, Schwarzenegger now is calling for thousands of layoffs if our state budget isn't agreed upon by this Friday. I have not heard about the min. wage in a very long time and it isn't being considered anymore from what I know here in Sacramento. Hang in there CO State Workers.....!!
February 10, 2009

7:55 p.m.

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The_Punnisher writes:

It worked for the FRENCH...ropes are the usual means to exact justice in the West.

Everyone might want to check the writings of Thomas Jefferson..

And the political writings of Robert Heinlein...who once resided in Colorado Springs...

I actually help run a controlled anarchy site called www.trollvalhalla.com . People can let off steam there. No GODERATION allowed.
February 10, 2009

8:21 p.m.

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jbowen43 writes:

Time to raise taxes on those who can pay.
February 10, 2009

8:35 p.m.

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strat134 writes:

I think that was a poorly worded sentence on the cost savings. The $2.5mm per day has to mean per day of furlough, so assuming an average of 1.5 furlough days per month (article says employees would be furloughed 1 to 2 days), the savings would be $2.5mm x 1.5 days x 12 months = $45mm, or about a 4.5% reduction on a shortfall of $1 bil. Not a silver bullet, but on the other hand not chump change either.
February 10, 2009

9:24 p.m.

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justright writes:

People .......
Ritter increased the number of state employees by 4400 people from the previous year. That is a 4.9% increase in people. That is what is irresponsible! The booming energy sector only add 3300 jobs. Unfortnately Ritter is running them out of town now.

When you state employees are enjoying your 3 day weekends and wondering why your wages are frozen or worried about being laid off, remember your boss expanded the state goverment by 4400 fellow employees. He and the Libs at the house grew the state budget by 1.4 Billion dollars. That is an 8.9% increase in money expected from us tax payers. Now they are running around crying about cutting 600million dollars and furlough state employees.

People wake up....... They still grew the state goverment by 800million dollars in one year. That is a 4.3% increase while the rest of the state is down sizing!

Your pain and suffering is a direct response from your boss and his party friends!
February 10, 2009

9:40 p.m.

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farsidefan writes:

Furloughs are not a bad idea. It is not new in Colorado. Years ago the same thing took place. When you have no legislative history ( term limits ) folks forget the state has been through this before.
Let's take it a little further: Legisalors have to take 1 furlough day a week, they have to pay for their parking spots, they forfeit one per diem amount a week.
Cut their per diems for meals. Most could lose a little weight anyway.
How about putting a new deadline for the legislature to end ? Maybe end by May 1. People tend to take the entire time allotted for a task. They could get the serious stuff completed by then. Or one year have full length session. Next year limit it to only 3 months and limit session to the state budget and any emergency situations that arise.
February 10, 2009

9:43 p.m.

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SickAndTiredInLittleton writes:

"Time to raise taxes on those who can pay." I nominate jbowen43. He/she should stand up as an example in these hard times, and overpay his/her taxes. And encourage everybody else who believes that more government is the solution to the economic downturn to do the very same. I'm sure every other big-government, tax-the-rich supporter will step right in with their checkbooks. They would never expect somebody else to suffer the burden.

After all, it wasn't the complete isolation of the gi-normous government from us common folk, while only giving access to lobbyists that can spend enough to influence elections, that put us in this mess to begin with. Let's go ahead and tax the top end of the middle class, and move them into the lower class so that we can feel better about the number of poor folk around us. In case nobody's noticed: the rich don't pay taxes. We have loopholes aplenty, and they can afford accountants.

Wouldn't want to address the underlying issue; a government structure which is beholden to absolutely nobody without access to millions of dollars, since we just hold elections and elect the lesser of evils every n years, based on which side scares people the most.
As long as pinheads in the statehouse can inspire statements like this, they'll never have to change a thing. Won't matter what makes economic sense; just what scares enough people to win the next election. We're going to get what we deserve here; ignorance is not bliss - it's poverty.
February 10, 2009

9:44 p.m.

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SacTown writes:

Okay, I am an outsider because I do not live in Colorado and some may wonder why I am reading news from this site. It's a great place to visit! As a state worker here in California, I understand the cut backs in both private and government sectors. That's why I am okay with the Furlough Fridays we have here now in California... State workers really do get a bad name in all states. We hear, "I pay your salary..." Well the truth is we too pay taxes and when the state (being CO or CA) is in trouble, we get threatened every year with.... Layoffs, IOU's, Furloughs, min. wage...... We have come to expect it here in California and probably in all government positions. Yes I agree, we also need to make the sacrifice just as the private sector....
We ask for a cost of living incrase and we get tossed a bone of, "here you can have another holiday or two." Then we get hasseled by the public that we have too many holidays. We didn't even want them. Now those holidays are taken away by a new Governor and also fuloughs. So we never gained anything over the years. People need to understand all companies private/gov. need to make cut backs to get us back on track. That's why I am okay by being furloughed.
February 10, 2009

10:01 p.m.

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CObeez writes:

farsidefan,

Let me start off by stating that you need to get your facts straight. Colorado State employees have never faced furloughs. Layoffs??? Yeah but not furloughs. Like the CA state employees have stated it would be about 10% reduction in salary for employees take 2 days a month off. That is definitely much better than being laid off but that is just a short-term solution to a potentially long-term problem. This is the same type of mentality that was being used when the State did the "Pay Date Shift". Looked good for a minute but never solved any problem.
February 10, 2009

10:24 p.m.

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farsidefan writes:

CO beez,
Gee maybe it was just the state agency I worked for for 27 years that made us take furlough days one year. It was maybe 3 or 4.
Or maybe it was only the non classified staff. We did have furloughs.
Yea, the pay date thing was only good for one year.
February 10, 2009

10:25 p.m.

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SacTown writes:

I agree with you "CObeez"... I will take the cut in pay over a layoff anyday. By the way this is the first time in CA state history we have been furloughed..... They did issue I.O.U's in the mid 90's, but that has now been ruled illegle.
February 10, 2009

10:44 p.m.

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The_Punnisher writes:

How about all these " paid by taxpayer dollar " positions GET PAID MINIMUM WAGE and NO BENNIES just like a lot of the jobs US TAXPAYERS have?

Your GOVERNATOR and fat cats in Sac-town should lead by example....

Your Sacto fat cats need a bit of EPA and Oak-Town reality...

Denver & CO has the same problems but they are not as bad as yours...YET...
February 10, 2009

10:52 p.m.

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SacTown writes:

I guess, but look at the size of our state. It is out of control. I believe in our Governor and I was on his campaign committee. I voted for him and the entire country is in trying times right now. If we set an example for the rest of the country, I sure hope it is a good one.....
(this was a good discussion and sorry to you all for my typos in the above messages.... Have a good night).
February 10, 2009

10:59 p.m.

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SickAndTiredInLittleton writes:

SacTown,

Glad to hear you believe in your governor. We're looking at a one-term wonder here. Ritter has bet his future on riding the national DNC leadership into a Washington position. Doesn't float well in a state populated by people who work for a living. I'm really hoping he has to run for a second term so that he can take the beating he has coming at the polls....
February 10, 2009

11:05 p.m.

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Astaroth writes:

Okay, so they want to furlough employees to save money and to cushion higher education. Umm... I work for higher ed... if they furlough me to give higher ed money, then they're making me take a day off so they can save some money so they can pay me. This doesn't make a whole lot of sense. YES, I realize that all state workers would be boned by this nonsensical idea, but not only are we talking about robbing Peter to pay Paul, but also we're talking about robbing Peter to pay Peter. The good news out of all this is that we're getting a good laugh at King's expense, and this stupid bill will die quickly.
February 10, 2009

11:49 p.m.

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mmannino writes:

The pain will get much worse in California and Colorado. Both states (along with many others) are currently hiding the true size of the budget deficits because of dishonest pension agencies. The pension funds have no ability to pay the outrageous pension benefits. Both states should declare a fiscal emergency in the pension systems to reduce benefits. Retirement age must be increased to match Social Security. The highly subsidized early retirements will bankrupt both states. If the outrageous pension benefits are not reduced, massive reductions of state services will be necessary. Public employees should forget about gold plated retirements at age 50 to 60.
February 11, 2009

6:16 a.m.

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SanctuaryCity writes:

Still no mention of the illegal problem thats bankrupting the state & sticking it to the legal person again. Time is way over due in dealing with this sanctuary state.
February 11, 2009

6:19 a.m.

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SanctuaryCity writes:

Start with furloughing ritter & the lam duck state legislators
February 11, 2009

6:22 a.m.

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SanctuaryCity writes:

Want to stiff state workers to cushion the colleges to give illegals in state tuition. Wake up people
February 11, 2009

6:41 a.m.

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DakotaPlainsman writes:

Maybe, if we can get along with out the state workers for a couple days a month, we don't need them? ... or at least not so many of them?
February 11, 2009

7:36 a.m.

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Heidi writes:

Socialism at it's finest! I guess the lowly state workers aren't as important as the higher education folks.
SanctuaryCity, your comment at 6:22 pretty much defines this mess.
February 11, 2009

7:38 a.m.

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dilligaf writes:

It is time for sacrifice. Everyone will have to adjust. BUT I MEAN EVERYONE. What upsets me is it seems like the working guy is the one that has to give. Just like during the Reagan administration it was the working guy that gave all these concessions while the million dollar mansions just kept springing up all over. CEO's salaries went from a half mil a year to 50+ mil a year. Workers in this country never caught up from those concessions and now they are told to do it again.
February 11, 2009

7:48 a.m.

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conniesz writes:

I propose an across the board 10% pay cut for all state employees - and a larger cut for those making over $100K. In fact, the more you make, the larger the cut.

When Seagate had it's last lay off, everyone left took at least a 10% pay cut - upper management took more and I believe the CEO took a 30% cut.

We need to get this done on the state level. This would not shut down offices one day a week, but would allow normal operations. Yes, people would see reduced pay, but in the end being able to keep their jobs should be some comfort.

I hope the legislature considers an across the board pay cut - but that would mean they have to take the cut too - so I guess it will never happen.
February 11, 2009

7:57 a.m.

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Salchak_Toka writes:

Actually, SickAndTired, Ritter is a one-termer because he'll be voted out. Your typical Colorado citizen wants lower taxes and more welfare from the feds. A couple more months of recession, and the voting public here will be screaming for Doug Bruce.
February 11, 2009

8:22 a.m.

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robbyr2 writes:

To all those dreaming of Ritter as a one-term governor... time will tell. But the majority of Coloradans as well as Americans know that something has to be done by government to fix what the "businesspeople always do the right thing" Publicans have done to us. We may not know what, but hopefully most understand that the Reagan and Bush tax cuts didn't do anything for them. For the top 2%, sure. Not for the lower 80%.

The Publicans are saying we need do nothing. They point to Reagan's tax cut as having saved us like FDR didn't from the First Great Depression. The lunacy of comparing the economy faced by FDR with that faced by Reagan is overwhelming. No real economist or historian would think of doing so. Of course, since most Americans know nothing about history... it's easy to have it re-written.
February 11, 2009

8:24 a.m.

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NorCalGuy writes:

That's June 30th, 2010, 17 months total. There's nothing like a 9.23 percent pay cut to make you feel warm all over, kind of like getting peed on. My wife and I look forward to not having $1,010 less a month in our family budget, and so do our kids, as California State Workers. How about having those who are actually going to benefit from "higher" education actually pay the bill? I had high hopes for Colorado, don't start emulating what the Socialist Republic of California is doing.
February 11, 2009

8:33 a.m.

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CObeez writes:

farsidefan that may have been the case. I guess I should have said this would be the first "mandatory furlough" if it is indeed implemented. I agree that this bill will crash and burn very quickly. Hopefully faster than the bill that was introduced about mandatory chipping of cats. This bill will open the state up to a series of lawsuits if it were to get signed. If you do the furlough you have to do it the same for all employees, not based on salary. That isn't equitable treatment for all employees.
February 11, 2009

8:40 a.m.

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Gonzopozo writes:

My, my, what a collection of mindless rhetoric and bad ideas in these posts, NONE of which will be even considered by the legislature.

They have two choices - layoffs or furloughs. There may be some of both, along with service reductions.

Take some reality pills, people.
February 11, 2009

8:40 a.m.

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VZ43 writes:

It's so simple: Cut the university payroll by 10 percent, essentially providing the 'furlough' at the source where it's needed.
February 11, 2009

8:44 a.m.

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davies writes:

jbowen43 writes:

"Time to raise taxes on those who can pay."

By which jbowen43 of course means: "Time to raise taxes on other people."
February 11, 2009

9 a.m.

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idk writes:

I love it when poeple start attacking the "government worker" and comparing their standing to those in private industry. The difference is that while the workers in private industry are feeling a great deal of pain right now, the government workers didn't get the perks, raises, bonuses, rewards that workers in private industry received for years. Now those same private workers are yelling to see government workers feel their pain (when they weren't able to enjoy the same perks years ago). I agree that the state/city/federal payrolls may have become a bit bloated over the years, but for the average government worker, they have worked hard for years, always being told that they couldn't have a bonus, profit sharing, etc. but their reward was that their job was stable...now you want to remove that. We all need to make sacrifices in this horrible economy but let's not start comparing apples to oranges. If you want the government workers to feel your pain now, are you going to be so willing when everything turns around in a few years to see those same workers get the benefits and perks that will be available in private industry?
February 11, 2009

9:16 a.m.

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adirtfarmer writes:

Can you believe that government employees will have to take a furlough and suffer through no performance bonus money? Tough times.

They will likely stage a work slowdown that will go unnoticed.

Here is an idea: reduce the government administrative and management pay by half. Install performance measurements at all levels and link all pay to performance. A new approach to doing business....
February 11, 2009

9:21 a.m.

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Cwillyrun1 writes:

What a dumb idea. These are people's jobs......... and this lawmaker wants to take some of their pay away so students don't have their education affected? Where's the priorities?

And just because some other state uses it doesn't mean it's something Colorado should adopt. I want our lawmakers to do better than this. Maybe the lawmakers can take a pay cut instead.
February 11, 2009

9:23 a.m.

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AGK writes:

conniesz writes:

I propose an across the board 10% pay cut for all state employees - and a larger cut for those making over $100K. In fact, the more you make, the larger the cut.

When Seagate had it's last lay off, everyone left took at least a 10% pay cut - upper management took more and I believe the CEO took a 30% cut.

We need to get this done on the state level. This would not shut down offices one day a week, but would allow normal operations. Yes, people would see reduced pay, but in the end being able to keep their jobs should be some comfort.

I hope the legislature considers an across the board pay cut - but that would mean they have to take the cut too - so I guess it will never happen.
--------------------------
Can you afford a 10-12% cut in your pay? I bet not. But us lowly state employees who are obviously "extremely overpaid and underworked" can. Wake up. State employees are taxpayers too, something you seem to forget. What are YOU willing to do on your part? State employees have given up pay raises for numerous years since Gov Owens & his cronies implemented our wonderful "Pay for Performance". The plan has never been funded
but I guess according to you we state employees should be greatful for the "crumbs" the Governor and Legislature give us.
February 11, 2009

9:29 a.m.

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mmannino writes:

idk,

You are misinformed perhaps intentionally. Most states have laws requiring relative parity in compensation between the public and private sector. Colorado has such a law. Every year, the Colorado personnel and labor department conducts a salary survey that is used to adjust salaries of state employees. Obviously there is variance in compensation but overall, there is rough parity between the public and private sector.

The salary survey does not factor the much higher level of instability in the private sector than public sector. Many are willing to work in the public sector because employment stability is much higher.

In addition, the salary survey lies about retirement compensation. Retirement compensation in the public sector is much higher (5 to 10 times) than the private sector. The salary survey indicates that retirement compensation in the private sector is higher than the public sector. The lies are so outrageous that the salary survey no longer includes the comparison. The public sector retires at a much younger age with much larger amounts of replacement income, better inflation protection, and subsidized early retiree medical care. The taxpayers are highly subsidizing early retirement for state workers. This level of retirement compensation is like adding 35% to 50% to a public employees compensation.
February 11, 2009

9:30 a.m.

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Cwillyrun1 writes:

robby, you probably don't know the details of the New Deal, do you? Under FDR. government expanded programs to help the economy, but it only made it worse. It left the free market out of the equation and that's why it took so long for the economy to recover.

The 70's were a nightmare financially, and it wasn't until Reagan became President that the economy turned around. See what you will see, but the facts are the facts and just because you don't like Republicans doesn't mean you're right. Until people see that the problem lies with both parties, things likely won't change.
February 11, 2009

9:34 a.m.

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davies writes:

I say implement a statewide cat tax. Cat owners would pay $25 per year for each cat. Or maybe $2 per bag of kitty litter. Cats are a luxury. Heidi, I know you'll back me on this one, right?
February 11, 2009

9:36 a.m.

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DUScooter writes:

GREAT idea. It is a welcomed pleasure to see a Republican concerned with education as this is typically NOT an item of the party's platform.

2-day furloughs for 2-years for Colorado!
February 11, 2009

9:42 a.m.

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AGK writes:

mmannino writes:

idk,

You are misinformed perhaps intentionally. Most states have laws requiring relative parity in compensation between the public and private sector. Colorado has such a law. Every year, the Colorado personnel and labor department conducts a salary survey that is used to adjust salaries of state employees. Obviously there is variance in compensation but overall, there is rough parity between the public and private sector.

----------------

Yes we have a salary survey in the state, but the state has failed to fund the salary survey at the full level ever since pay for performance was implemented by Gov Owens. I don't know what world YOU live in, but a state employees' pay and benefits is hardly 35-50% higher than a private sector employee. State employees are taxpayers too and we pay into our pension just like you invest in your 401ks. Quit bashing state employees and trying to balance the state budget on the backs of classified state employees.
February 11, 2009

9:46 a.m.

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Heidi writes:

davies, you got that all wrong. My cats are my dependents, so I should get a tax exemption for each one. And I should be able to deduct the cost of their food and litter. Since I have no children, I am not burdening the tax payers with the cost of education. In fact, I contribute to that fund so I should get a break somewhere!
February 11, 2009

9:52 a.m.

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idk writes:

mmannio, I'm not mis-informed intentially or unitentially. I don't currently work for the government but I used to many years ago. I'm simply trying to point out that comparing government workers to private industry workers is pointless. You are comparing apples to oranges. I'm not talking about the heads of departments and high paid government workers, I'm talking about the administrative assistants, the guys digging the ditches and fixing the highways. (your neighbors and friends!) When the masses begin to call for cuts for the lazy government workers it upsets me because these same workers are the ones that don't get the perks when the times are good. (Even employees at Target get an employee discount...that doesn't really show up in a wage survey!) I know all about wage and salary surveys...they aren't worth the paper that they are printed on. People must choose when the accept a job what is important to them and act accordingly. Most government workers have chosen stable employment, good retirement and benefits over the possibilty of quick money and other perks. It was a choice...one that didn't look so good about 10 years ago. The tide has turned and it will turn again and again. Just don't call for these cuts to government workers and not be ready to reward them when times are good. That's all.
February 11, 2009

10:09 a.m.

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davies writes:

Okay Heidi. Well, a pet snake tax then. Snakes are very hard on the governmental infrastructure, because when they get too big, people flush them down the toilet, thus creating a burden on waste treatment plants. And did you see 'Snakes on a Plane'? What about all the snake expertise and anti-venom that was needed to help save those people?

Yes, maybe then we could even tie future state employee salary increases directly to snake tax revenues.
February 11, 2009

10:10 a.m.

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mmannino writes:

idk,

I do not criticize public employees by calling them lazy or other derogatory terms. I do criticize them about demands for outrageous retirement compensation. I criticize the department of labor and personnel for its failure to reasonably compare retirement compensation between the public and private sectors. The deception by the labor and personnel department along with the group of employee activists who oversee the compensation survey is deliberate.

Regarding the idea of sparing higher education, higher education has lots of fat. Before sparing higher education, the fat should be cut. I would like to see radical changes to higher education besides cutting the fat. Regardless of the economic downturn, higher education needs substantial changes. I doubt that legislators and university administrators would welcome my ideas.
February 11, 2009

10:32 a.m.

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realleah writes:

As a state worker, I am not opposed to taking a furlough day here and there, IF it is for the good of the state as a whole. If the purpose is to take (extort) my salary to fund colleges so that someone's else's kids don't have to pay full price to go to college, then NO. Rep. King, get your head out of your a__.
February 11, 2009

10:45 a.m.

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ou8one2 writes:

Hey democraps:

“The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.”

~Margaret Thatcher
February 11, 2009

10:53 a.m.

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A_Master writes:

mmannino,

You're a lair and the one spreading the dis-information. Yes there's a "difference" between the Public & Private sectors, but then there's a difference between any two Private sector companies too.

Colorado's Public Employee's Retirement Association (PERA - http://www.copera.org/) is this state's retirement organization and that URL shows what they really are. If its benefits are "better" then the nebulous "public sector" you speak of then GOOD FOR THE Public Employee's. That's what capitalism is about right?

Not so amazing is the fact PERA is actually severely damaged by the recent Market crashes and is also looking at "major changes" to compensate - such as raising the retirement age, restricting current payouts and a host of other measures. You sir, are spreading disinformation that somehow Colorado Public Employee's have a magical retirement that's insulated from the same economic pressure's the Private sector is facing. Is isn't, nor are any employee's demanding "outrageous retirement compensation" either.

CDLE's salary survey's? That's been funded ONCE in the past six years so you really don't have much of a point there.

Pay-for-Performance? That's existed for 12 years now. It's been fully funded twice. Speaking of "employee's making outrageous demands" - we're now calling for it's complete removal from the State's system. It's not achieving what the Legislature intended and is a waste of time & money.

A more efficient government is desired by State workers FAR MORE then anybody realizes. There is horrific waste everyday and it continues while the men&women behind the curtains continue to distract everyone from the real issues with ridiculous crap like this.

Somebody said it'd save $45million, even if that's true that's not even 5% of the deficit! Of the money the government does spend, taking away from the people that are also struggling to buy groceries & pay their mortgages isn't a change from the kind of thinking (or lack thereof) that got us into this mess in the first place.

How about we simply hold the government accountable for the millions it does spend? How about we FIRE the inept management (who's often making over 6 figures btw) that continues to burn through those millions and not ever increase or better the services delivered to the citizens of Colorado?

Think I'm just a "dumb state worker" trying to lay blame "up"? Check this out:
http://www.9news.com/rss/article.aspx...

That kind of thing is happening IN EVERY DEPARTMENT! There are millions upon millions that can be "saved" right now simply by cleaning out these morons and letting the people that are doing the work just get their jobs done without having to carry this BS along everyday too.
February 11, 2009

10:55 a.m.

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A_Master writes:

I should try not to post books.

"nebulous PRIVATE sector" ... not Public Sector. *sigh*
February 11, 2009

11:04 a.m.

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Heidi writes:

ou8one2, that is my favorite quote!
February 11, 2009

1:34 p.m.

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mmannino writes:

A_Master,

You obviously must be a PERA member. PERA and the industry around public employee pensions spread misinformation about the pension benefits. PERA and the rest of the industry have spread misinformation that the benefits are modest. A number of studies including my own have thoroughly debunked this misinformation about modest retirement benefits. For career employees, the benefits are outrageous, equivalent to a subsidy of 35% to 50% of salary or more than $500,000 as an additional lump sum payment at retirement. Early retirement is heavily subsidized in PERA and other plans. That is the dirty secret that PERA will not tell.

You are incorrect about the compensation survey. It is conducted every year by DPA. Here is a link to the survey page.

http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/dhr/comp/...

PERA has claimed that retirement benefits are immune from economic cycles not me. PERA has repeatedly claimed that retirement benefits cannot be changed for any retiree and current worker. I assert that the legislature should declare a fiscal emergency and deal with the inability of PERA's assets to pay future benefits. The legislature at PERA's insistence is negligent in not dealing with the problem now.

I am not blaming PERA for investment losses. I do not have any information about the management of the PERA fund. The problem with PERA is not asset management but the outrageous retirement benefits.
February 11, 2009

3:19 p.m.

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A_Master writes:

mmannino,

I didn't say the Salary Survey isn't conducted, it's not FUNDED consistently so it's another prime example of government waste & misdirection that people like you misrepresent as being some sort of outrageous pay raise. It's a SURVEY to track where state employee's salaries are compared to "market value" - including cost of living, health care, retirement, etc.

It clearly shows we state employee's being far behind the curve at the BASE PAY level. Outrageous retirement benefits notwithstanding. <- That last sentence is sarcasm, a form of humor. Oh and by the way, Colorado ranks 49th out of the 50 States in healthcare for it's employee's. HOW can the largest employer in the state do that? (Hint: Incompetence)

"Clearly a member of PERA"? So you don't respect anything I have to say about it?

Ah, well then I can see this is not going to be anything other then an adversarial situation. You want to take away my retirement investments and I want to protect them.

Well that and I'll be organizing the work force against morons like you that don't have the foresight or backbone to actually do the things that will help my state. I was born here, and people like you that think they can push around the common working man just because you think nobody will fight back have another thing coming brother.

Last, I still believe you're a liar. Nobody in PERA get's a $500,000 "lump sum" payout at retirement. This paper wouldn't be worth the ink it takes to print if they'd not uncovered such a ridiculous waste of money. That or PERA ought to run everybody's retirement if they could afford to do that for 400,000+ beneficiaries. That'd been $200,000,000.00 cash, plus the annual stipend? How much more ridiculous of an argument could you attempt to foist on people?

Maybe you should just sit this one out and let the people that know what's going on fix the actual problems so you don't muddy the waters with unsubstantiated issues.
February 12, 2009

12:02 a.m.

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jrsbebco writes:

conniesz writes:

'We need to get this done on the state level. This would not shut down offices one day a week, but would allow normal operations. Yes, people would see reduced pay, but in the end being able to keep their jobs should be some comfort.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is one of the big problems with Colorado. The citizens are never made to miss any of their services. Our performance pay has rarely ever been funded since they came up with that idea, our cost of living increases have been frozen more than once, they are now proposing a major cut in our already lean salaries and she has it all figured out that we should keep it 'business as normal'. How convenient for her. If we are going to be made to suffer financially, then it's time for the citizens of CO to wake up and see what's going on. The reality is that if they are inconvenienced a bit then maybe they'd stop accusing us of being lazy overworked employees and see that something needs to be done besides have us balance the state budget on our backs. The service works both ways and I believe the citizens need to have their own inconvenience, after all, it won't cost them anything.

My husband is also a 21.5 yr state employee. He just finished three years of a pay freeze, received one cost of living increase last year and now is facing a pay freeze again. This has already been hurting our family's finances for many years and we cannot afford any more cuts. We are living paycheck to paycheck now. I've been a hard working, dedicated state employee of Colorado, going above and beyond, for 29 years now and am realizing there is no thanks. I've dedicated my life to my job, I've done it well and now cannot afford to retire anytime soon. Yes, there is surely waste somewhere in the State of Colorado government, but I can assure you it's not in the employees salaries. We are just an easy prey to Gov and legislature. They need to go work at finding the funds somewhere else, or better yet, figure out what they did to help get us into this mess in the first place.
February 12, 2009

8:32 a.m.

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Sundog writes:

Pay freeze? Try getting sent out the door with your last paycheck. The real world jobs at corporations or small businesses have no guarantees whatsoever. The workers are terminated forever....forever, usually about a week before Christmas. You don't know how lucky you have been for all those years. You have been rocked in the government cradle. The average worker in America has had up to 20 jobs during that time. Seriously. It is dog eat dog out there now, and the corporations use people up like little cardboard hamburger containers. Retirement plan? Medical plan? Dental? Get serious. Really. You've been lucky, now welcome to the great unwashed.
February 12, 2009

9:39 a.m.

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Fred writes:

Sundog,
The point is Colorado's state employees get paid less and have more costly medical benefits than their counterparts in the private sector.
They take less pay with fewer benefits for the perceived "stability" the government job supposedly offers.

The problem is the stability is perceived and not real. Once state workers figure this out they flock back to the private sector.
I t seems to me that those that wish to bash state employees want to have their cake and eat it too.

You seem to want them to work for little pay, costly benefits, and no stability.
That’s fine by me, but what you’ll get in the end is a lousy state government workforce.
If your desires is to have your taxes processed by buffoons, your neighborhood policed by thugs, your children taught by the lowest common denominator and your bridges built by engineers that couldn’t get a job elsewhere then fine.
But keep your mouth shut when all of those systems fail. You asked for the dim and the lazy instead of the best and the brightest.
It’s almost what we’ve gotten already and the reason is simply because the working conditions are so bad that the best leave for the private sector and greener pastures.
February 13, 2009

9:20 a.m.

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Sundog writes:

It's hard to keep my mouth shut when you are putting so many words into it. You are also assigning priorities that I do not in fact have. But your direct affrontery betrays your own inability to deal with the facts: the government bureaucrats have had it cushy to the extreme. Those years may fade into dim memory very soon, and you had just better get used to it, as all of us must.

And get something straight right now: there is no private sector. It went to India and China. You must speak fluent Spanish to access it here. The rug has been pulled from all of us. Pelosi is on her way to a vacation in Rome and none of the legislators, by their own admission, will even READ THE BILL before passing it.

More of your quality government at work here. What a joke. Spare me your patronizing instructions.
February 18, 2009

10:21 a.m.

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A_Master writes:

So how exactly will punishing the workers stop the 'government bureaucrats' from having it cushy in the future?

WE are for holding those bureaucrats accountable to their actions and for putting the money where it should go: to the people's interests, not theirs.

We know the situation is rough for citizens as those are the people we deliver all those services too. How will cutting back on us - as opposed to excessive spending & managerial waste - help the citizens?

It's not just "our" government, it's yours too. If you want them to stop doing stupid crap it'd be a good idea to point your anger at those responsible.

Home › News › Local News

Colorado lawmaker calls for furloughs

By Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published February 10, 2009 at 5:58 p.m.

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