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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Greetings!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>There was a request that information come from a
legislator concerning state employee pay. I offer a brief review of some
of the details. Let me know if you want more information.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I am writing to discuss some
legislative actions with regard to university employees and the 1% bonus.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <?xml:namespace prefix = o
ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">There were hearings at the
beginning of the last legislative session to address state employee pay.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(CEC committee)<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There was testimony that was truly heart
breaking from employees struggling to make ends meet – employees who hadn’t had
any raise for three years.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The legislature voted a 2% raise
for state employees, with an additional 1% to come if tax revenues would support
that.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">There are some issues certainly
troublesome to me in this area.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>First, there were no definitive discussions over how the 1% was to be
distributed – merit or across the board.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>My own view is that these employees do not receive fair
compensation.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We shouldn’t be
talking merit until compensation has reached something resembling fair
levels.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However, since this wasn’t
spelled out in the legislation, the Division of Human Resources seems to be
making the rules now that the money is available.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The universities did not receive
general fund money adequate to even pay for the 2% raises.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There was debate on the floor over the
fact that student fees would have to be used to help pay these salaries.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(highly questionable use of student
fees)<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The universities asked the
state board for an additional raise in student fees and were refused.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I think it’s terrible to burden students
with legislators’ refusal to fund universities adequately.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However, this whole scenario put
additional burden on university budgets that were already strapped.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Now, the universities have
similarly been given money to fund the 1% that is not adequate to meet the
actual cost of it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This
is ridiculous.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I think all
employees involved in this should get some kind of raise.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Unfortunately, we’re not talking about
enough money to make a big difference to them.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">The fact is that higher education has been
underfunded for years. I've been impressed with the loyalty employees
show the University of Idaho, but we need to step up, provide better
funding, and treat employees with more respect. I truly think legislators
should delay the sunset of the higher sales tax rate until the system of
taxation is reviewed and revenue is adequate. </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">This review comes mostly from my
best recollections, although I did discuss some of this with a state official
this morning.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If you have further
questions, or think my memory may be faulty, let me know.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’ll be glad to research the issue
further.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Shirley</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>