[Vision2020] A proposal to balance the budget

[Robert Dickow]

Continuing the thread...

Some folks may still feel that government employees get paid way more than
private employees, justifying cuts to government workers. It's hard to
generalize, and it depends on the occupation. I got a note that asserted
that government employees are making gobs of money here in Moscow. That
wasn't quite the line of argument I was taking, which was about the country
in general. Anyway, statistics can lie don't forget, so don't draw big
conclusions, but here's a list of some professional occupations with
salaries that show quite a bit of variance. Anyways... figures from the
Bureau of Labor Statistics. College professors in private institutions? I
think they're paid more, aren't they? Anybody?

Attorney
Government average: $105,577 
Nationwide average: $110,520

Financial Manager
Government average: $95,257
Nationwide average: $96,620

Economist
Government average: $89,441
Nationwide average: $80,900

Microbiologist: 
Government average: $80,798
Nationwide average: $63,360

Architect
Government average: $80,777
Nationwide average: $68,560

Accountant
Government average: $74,907
Nationwide average: $58,020

Librarian
Government average: $74,630
Nationwide average: $49,110

Human Resources Manager
Government average: $71,232
Nationwide average: $89,950

Nurse
Government average: $60,935
Nationwide average: $56,880

Tax examiner
Government average: $36,963
Nationwide average: $49,460

Medical Technician
Government average: $35,526
Nationwide average: $33,170
 
Bob Dickow, troublemaker

-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of bear at moscow.com
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 5:50 PM
To: lfalen
Cc: vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] A proposal to balance the budget


Roger,

As someone who has had to face the cuts imposed by CALS, I find your
suggestions a but short sighted.  I did not have science or research in my
title and have over 8 years of seniority but I still was laid off by the
College and to retain employment and benefits was forced to take a
demotion.  I was also one of the few people in CALS that had to take
furlough days last year.  Yet you suggest I should be willing and even
happy to accept a 5% cut!  While I feel for the people who now have to be
paid via grant funding via the PI, the fact remains that is an option for
them.  Why shouldn't the extension offices as state and federal employees
take the same cuts that have been imposed by the Gov. as the on campus
departments and offices have had to absorb?

All I am saying is that the problem is more complex than everyone take a
5% cut across the board.

Chris Price



> Here are some proposals to balance Federal, State and University  Budgets
> .
> First I would take care of the mentally ill, the disabled and our
> veterans.
> All government employees (state and Federal) should take a 5% pay cut. The
> private sector has taken cuts(except for Wall Street and a few others).
> This should start with all Federal legislators. State legislators are not
> paid that much in Idaho.
> The University could easily balance their budget by doing so. Instead they
> are making cuts at the low end. Cals is making the cuts on those staff
> that have science or research in their title. This is a highly arbitrary
> way to do it and is not based on merit or seniority.  The PI that they
> work for will have to come up with  half their salary from other sources
> such as grants. My wife has been cut to 87.5%. She is now paid for 7 hours
> but still puts in about 12 hours a day. In june she will probably be cut
> to half time. This means that her benefits will no longer be picked up by
> the University. One can not afford to work for that, She has worked for
> the UI for over 40 years. She has 3 more years to go before reaching SS
> retirement age.
> An across the board 5% cut would not hurt anyone that much and it would
> easier to save the desired dollars than cutting some staff by 80 or 50%
> The UI has opened up 4 offices in China to recruit students. Why? The UI
> is a land grant college. They should take care of their base first.
> Recruit in China when times are better.
> Other ways to save money.  Review all government agencies for ways they
> can be reduced. All agencies should come with a sunset. If after a set
> period of time they would need to be re-evaluated and authorised. If the
> wern't they would go out of existence. All lawmakers should be on the same
> benefits that they legislate for the rest of us.
> All cuts in pay or personnel should start at the top. The UI like most
> other government agencies have greatly expanded at the administrative
> level. That is where the cuts should start. Diversity is important, but
> the UI does nt need in excess of 20 people to handle it. There   should be
> on director and an  assistant. They can then work with someone in the
> individual departments or colleges.
> If Administrators were trimmed  back at the Federal, State and University
> level more programs and jobs could be save on balance.
> Help the handicapped fine jobs. When I was with Carnation and Manna Pro
> our Small World line of Wild bird seeds were packaged by handicapped
> people.
> These are only a few things that can be done to balance the budget and at
> the same time save valuable programs such as aid for the mentally ill.
> Roger
>
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=======================================================
 List services made available by First Step Internet, 
 serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.   
               http://www.fsr.net                       
          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
=======================================================