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Updated: 3:50 PM Feb 16, 2009
State Employees Respond to Possible Delay in Pay
State Employees Continue to Bear the Burden of the State’s Budget Crisis
Posted: 3:50 PM Feb 16, 2009 |
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29 Comments 
TOPEKA – Monday, House Speaker Mike O’Neal and Senate President Steve Morris announced that the state Finance Council would not take up a measure to address the state’s severe cash shortage until Governor Sebelius signed the deficit-reduction bill.
As has been done in the past when the state has faced a similar cash shortage, the Governor had intended to request authority to borrow $225 million in order to issue payroll and income tax returns.
Without the loan, the state has halted the payment of tax returns and state employees may have to wait for pay day. “Once again, state employees are being used by the Legislature to balance the budget,” said Lisa Ochs, KOSE President.
Past practice has proven that state employees bear the burden of any crisis in the budget. “For years, state employees have been the last to be funded and the first to be cut. State employees have helped balance this budget in the past – they continue to work with unacceptable benefits and strikingly low salaries. Again, times are tough, but even during relatively good years, the budget has always been balanced on the back of state workers,” said Jane Carter, Executive Director of KOSE.
In fact, Kansas can’t afford to target state employees for additional cuts. “These are financially troubling times for everyone, and it is a sad maneuver to play politics with people’s livelihoods,” said Carter.
Statewide, turnover is an avoidable cost that is harming the state. State employees are leaving their positions due to an overwhelming work load, insufficient benefits, and embarrassingly low wages. Information from national independent organizations and the US Department of Labor reveal a poignant portrait of the current condition of state employees in Kansas:
Employee benefits per dollar of salary are the worst in the nation - Pew Center
The state’s workforce is in pretty dire shape, thanks to an inconsistent pay system that can’t compete in the labor market – Pew Center
Kansas ranks 40th in the nation for pay – US Bureau of Labor Statistics
The total average compensation is well below the national average - Pew Center
One in three state employees are more than 25% below the market – The Hay Group
“This is another race to the bottom for state employees by the Leadership of the Legislature. State employees simply have no more to give. Paychecks shouldn’t be held hostage for political maneuvering,” said Ochs.
Latest Comments
I am so sorry that all you state workers are not getting paid. I can understand the income tax checks being held for awhile, but you guys were there when you were needed you should be paid. Wife of state employee: I agree with you, you would probably be in a better situation if you were on welfare, we both would. But I am NOT going to lower myself to their level and I don't think you should either, be proud of youself, your husband and the fact that you were raised to know that living off of everyone elses tax money isn't right and welfare people should only be able to do it for a couple of months! Do you realise how much better off we all would be if all our tax money WASN'T going to welfare checks, and to support people who are to lazy to get off their butts and get jobs like the rest of us!
Tax refunds can be held but pay checks for state employees can't. These people deciding where the money goes to do not have to worry about what bills need to be paid. State employees live pay check by pay check. Everyone else needs to realize that. By not giving them what they worked for your putting them on the edge of becoming homeless.
How about borrowing some of that "pork" bill Barack Obama passed today, I'm sure that there is enough wasteful spending to cover our paychecks and tax returns.
