Valliere Proposes a Salary Reduction Plan for County Employees

[Lil B]

Valliere's County Employee Salary Reduction Plan Gets Mixed Reviews

By George Andreassi
February 1, 2010

STUART — Martin County Commissioner Susan Valliere’s latest proposal to cut the pay of all county employees, with the top earners giving up the most, was met with a mix of enthusiasm and skepticism.

While some government watchdogs praised Valliere for asking the fire rescue workers union to take pay cuts in 2011 along with the other county employees, some political activists, including her opponent in the Aug. 24 Republican primary, characterized her proposal a political tactic.

Valliere proposed pay cuts for all 1,500 county workers ranging from a 15.76 percent reduction for employees whose base pay is more than $130,000 per year to 1 percent for those with a base pay of less than $50,000 annually.

“I think this is the same sort of election year gimmickry that we get from, ‘Let’s have a 10 percent pay cut for county commissioners,’” said Jeff Gorman, primary opponent. “It’s a lot of fuss and feathers.”

Gorman said he supports 10 percent pay cuts for county employees making more than $100,000 annually and 5 percent cuts for workers making between $100,000 and $80,000, but opposed cuts for lower paid workers.

A temporary furlough program, like the one the county ended Monday, would be preferable to permanent pay cuts, Gorman said.

Gorman’s campaign manager Diane McKechnie said Valliere’s salary proposal “sounds like a political ploy to me and voters will see right through it.”

Valliere denied her new salary cutting proposal was a political ploy.

“I’m in an election year, but I still have a job to do and I’m going to do it,” Valliere said. “We must save tax dollars where we can.

“Leadership requires me to make tough decisions and salary cuts are not something that we want to do but we must do it for our residents.”

But Don Pickard, the president of the Martin County Taxpayers Association, said the group supports the concept behind Valliere’s proposal, including the call for the fire rescue workers to accept a pay cut, but the specifics of the proposal are too complicated.

“We don’t think it’s enough,” Pickard said. “We would rather see them take it out of benefits and keep people employed and maybe even maintain salaries to a certain extent.”

Hal Smith, of the Whispering Sound Community Awareness Committee in Palm City, praised Valliere’s latest salary cutting proposal and said it sounds similar to Commissioner Sarah Heard’s suggestion to cut salaries by 3 percent for the lowest paid workers and 10 to 12 percent for the highest paid employees.

“It’s big step in the right direction,” Smith said. “So now we have two votes for the tough decision. Which of the remaining commissioners will provide the clinching vote?”

Heard said she’s willing to compromise on the issue.

Last year, Valliere proposed cutting the pay of county workers, but offered a complicated formula that none of the other four commissioners supported.

Longtime county government watchdog Bill Summers agreed with Gorman and McKechnie’s conclusion about Valliere’s latest salary reduction proposal.

“The salary restructure as proposed by Susan Valliere is nothing but a pure and simple political ploy,” Summers said. “Where was she regarding the county salary structure in the last election when she was cozying up to the fire rescue (workers) who were providing labor for her re-election campaign?”

Martin County Commissioner Susan Valliere’s proposal for cutting salaries

Annual salary.....Percent reduction.......Dollar reduction...New annual salary

$25,000...................... 1................................$250....................$24,750

$50,000...................... 1.............................. ...$500...................$49,500

$60,000...................... 1.66..........................$1,000...................$59,000

$70,000...................... 3.57..........................$2,500...................$67,500

$80,000...................... 5.63..........................$4,500...................$75,500

$90,000...................... 7.78..........................$7,000...................$83,000

$100,000.................... 10...........................$10,000...................$90,000

$120,000....................14.16....................... $17,000.................$103,000

$130,000....................15.76........................$20,500.................$109,500

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/feb/01/vallieres-county-employee-salary-reduction-plan/?partner=popular

[Lil B]

Martin’s 2009 Tab for Workers Cashing in Unused Paid Time Off: $826,491

By George Andreassi
February 4, 2010

STUART — Martin County workers cashed in $334,734 worth of unused Paid Time Off in the last three months of 2009, bringing the total for the year to $826,491.

A total of 110 county workers opted to cash in some of their accumulated Paid Time Off after county administrators proposed scaling back the PTO payout program in October.

The program became the subject of public criticism after Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers revealed in October that the county paid more than $1 million in banked Paid Time Off to dozens of county workers in 2009 and 2008 with some of the county’s top officials raking in as much as $10,000 in a year.

Balancing the public outcry about the payments against the morale of county workers, the commissioners reduced the maximum payout to $1,500 per year on Nov. 3, but gave the employees until Dec. 1 to cash in their unused PTO under the old limit.

That compromise was praised by several government watchdogs and the leader of the union that represents the county’s low-paid blue collar and clerical workers.

“We thought the $1,500 figure was fair,” said Don Pickard, the president of the Martin County Taxpayers Association. “We were for that.”

However, the taxpayers association generally believes county employees should be encouraged to use their paid time off, rather than save it up and cash it in later, Pickard said.

“The taxpayers position is vacation ought to be for vacation, sick days ought to be if you’re sick,” Pickard said. “A minimum amount could be sold back like they’re doing now.”

The county may want to consider trying to eliminate the payouts for unused time off in the future as part of negotiations with the unions that represent the county’s fire rescue workers and the clerical and blue collar employees.

Bill Summers, a longtime local government watchdog, agreed with most of the taxpayers association’s ideas about the PTO payout program.

“I agree with the scale back,” Summers said. “I’m a firm believer that either you use it or lose.”

“If they’re sick, then they should take their leave,” Summers said. “If they’re not sick, then they shouldn’t take it. Vacation is given for people to take some time off during the year for rest and relaxation.”

Mavis Curley, the chief steward of Teamsters Local 769, which represents 275 blue collar and clerical workers, said she believes the PTO payout program helped the highest paid county managers a lot more than her members.

“I think it’s a step in the right direction for the taxpayers and for overall fairness,” Curley said about the reduction in the maximum PTO payout. “The PTO thing got out there and they realized they had to change. I’m sure they’re not thrilled, but it works for us.”

“We’re thrilled with that. $1,500 is plenty for us,” Curley said. “That’s more than anybody was getting anyway whose in the bargaining unit. So, we think it’s great.”

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/feb/04/martins-2009-tab-workers-cashing-unused-paid-time-/

[Lil B]

Anthony Westbury: Let's Take a Page Out of Martin County's Budget-Cutting Proposal

By Anthony Westbury
February 3, 2010

ST. LUCIE COUNTY — It’s been described as “a lot of fuss and feathers,” and “election year gimmickry,” but a proposal out of Martin County to cut the pay of county employees at least deserves a look elsewhere.

Martin County Commissioner Susan Valliere has proposed pay cuts for all county employees ranging from a 15.76 percent reduction in salaries of those earning more than $130,000 a year to 1 percent for those making less than $50,000.

It seems Valliere had Martin County fire rescue personnel in her sights; many of whom were included in stories we published last year about the “$100,000 Club.”

Would Valliere’s idea carry any weight here? Perhaps.

As property values continue to dip, St. Lucie County Administrator Faye Outlaw is looking to balance the county’s books for fiscal year 2011-2012. In addition to an already budgeted drop in property values this year of 11.5 percent, she is assuming another 5 percent drop next year.

That translates to a $37 million shortfall in county revenues. Outlaw is readying a package of ideas to bridge that gap.

There are only 10 members of the “$100,000 Club” on county staff. They include Outlaw herself, the county attorney, county engineer, public safety director and library director, among others.

Outlaw is, however, looking at some combination of pay cuts, furloughs, the elimination of some benefits (such as car allowances, sick time carry-over), even consolidating some county departments.

“Yes, it’s doable (making up the $37 million shortfall) without raising taxes,” Outlaw said, probably to the infinite relief of her commissioners.

“I’m looking at a top-down realignment of the county’s administration. I’m looking at streamlining operations and improving efficiency. I’ll be starting at the top (in terms of employees) and working my way down.”

Employee costs for the county currently run at $30 million a year out of an operating budget of $53 million.

There are more members of the “$100,000 Club” at the St. Lucie County Fire District. Unlike Martin County this is not a county department, but an independent taxing district.

Fire Chief Ron Parrish confirmed he, too, is “looking under every rock” for ways to reduce costs and balance the budget for 2011-2012.

So far, fire unions have cooperated, Parrish said. Instead of insisting on unreasonable wage increases every year, the union agreed to freeze a cost-of-living increase this fiscal year and to modest increases next. That will save the district about $3 million, Parrish said.

“We’ve also made other adjustments. There will be more retirees, more attrition (positions left unfilled). We’ve been utilizing (cash) reserves to carry us through. Eventually we’ll have to look at other funding alternatives. We’re also looking at possibly leasing some of our cell towers to outside providers to offset the tax burden.”

Parrish said “we’ll be talking about taxes and those sorts of things” at a fire board retreat in March.

His comments about union negotiators show that at least some of them are getting the picture.

I’ve been flabbergasted by public-sector unions (some police ones come to mind) digging their heels in on pay and benefits levels more suited to a decade ago than the depths of a recession.

Yes, Susan Valliere’s proposal may be more political grandstanding than concrete proposal, yet her idea does speak to the widely held impression that public sector workers have yet to feel the pain experienced by the private sector.

Misery loves company, I guess.

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/feb/03/anthony-westbury-lets-take-a-page-out-of-martin/

[Kerry]

And my reply to Anthony and the rest.

It's truly a shame that "this paper" didn't support us YEARS AGO when we were fighting this issue back BEFORE IT BECAME AN ISSUE!!!!!!!!!

Instead we were ridiculed as "nut cases" while this paper was enjoying the photo ops and grand openings and all the other functions right along with the free spending politicians.

THIS PAPER continued to not only endorse them for re-election time after time but supported their grandiose projects without any concerns or questions.

Where were we when this all started years ago? What are you guys going to be printing come next budget? Will this paper feign ignorance or surprise at the taxpayer anger? Will you turn on your former friends when the mob appears and yell "THEY'RE THE ONES YOU WANT, WE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!"?

The media is just as culpable as everyone else who sat back and did nothing and you know EXACTLY what I'm talking about Anthony.

[Carl]

Amen. The freedom of the press isn't free; with it comes
the responsibility to accurately portray reality.

The opinion section is permitted to be the land of fantasy.
The rest of the paper ought to "shine a light on the truth".


Her plan is a tough pill to swallow. These are tough times.

[Huggs]

Her plan is a tough pill to swallow. These are tough times.

And very much like what I posted on January 26, 2010 to my platform for the Mayor's race. 

Only difference is, I won't attack the pay of those making under $65,000 a year.  Those are our workers that have been affected the most by layoffs and I truly believe they are working a skeleton crew now.

I'm targeting the middle and upper management.  These cuts MUST begin at the top.

[Carl]

With all due respect, I believe the Valliere plan is the right
approach. It includes everyone in the cost cutting, thereby
eliminating the resentments that might go along with having
a "protected class" of workers. And the sliding scale, while
open to criticism for it's progressiveness, minimizes the impact
where folks have the least ability to absorb this.

Also, I take exception to your use of the word "attack".
Valliere is not attacking anyone's pay, she is making an effort
to protect ALL employees by making ALL participate in an
undesirable yet necessary process.

I do agree, the cuts must start at the top. Yet they need to
include the entire team, if they are to be considered partners
in both pain and progress.

[Huggs]

Carl, I respect your opinion, but much has happened over the past year within the City of Port St. Lucie in regards to lower-end-paid employees and those with less senority.  My use of the word "attack" is exactly that....there has been an assault upon the blue-collar workers within our city.  The least paid are usually the ones that get cut from the herd first.  Those in that arena which are left, are the ones taking up the slack for the ones that have been terminated.  They are working at the same payscale, doing twice the workload.  So should we take money from them on a sliding scale to give the appearance that all are equal?

I'll ask this question in another fashion.

When was the last time you saw middle- or upper-management out digging a ditch?  Laying a pipe? Filling a pothole?  Operating heavy machinery?  Street sweeping?

[Carl]

Certainly, different counties in different situations will call
for differing solutions. If one end of the employment
spectrum has already done its part and taken the brunt of
the sacrifices, then yes, they should not be included in the
next round of cuts.

On the point of shared sacrifice (and on shared benefits in
future surpluses) we are very likely in agreement.

[Lil B]

Valliere Unveils Pay-Cut Plan for Martin Workers, Wants Public Safety Pay Trimmed

By George Andreassi
February 9, 2010
 
STUART -- After giving the other commissioners her proposal to cut the salaries of Martin County employees Tuesday, Commissioner Susan Valliere said she wants to discuss it during a budget meeting on Feb. 22.

“This issue here is money,” Valliere said. “We don’t have enough to go around.”

Valliere proposed giving the highest percentage pay cuts to the county’s top paid employees and the lowest percentage pay cuts to the least paid employees.

Valliere said she opposed the county’s one-day-per-month furlough program, which ended Feb. 1, because it cost all participating workers about 5 percent of their pay.

Commissioners Patrick Hayes and Sarah Heard said they want to discuss cutting the pay of public safety workers during the Feb. 22 budget meeting.

Hayes said the County Commission’s operations have sustained the bulk of the budget cuts in the last three years and it’s time for the public safety operations the Fire Rescue Department and Sheriff’s Office to chip in.

County employees earning $130,000 or more per year would have their pay reduced by 15.76 percent under Valliere’s proposal. Workers earning $50,000 or less annually would get 1 percent pay cuts.

The cuts would apply to the County Commission’s 869 employees and 688 employees in the constitutional offices, Valliere said.

But former Commissioner Lee Weberman, who is challenging Heard in the August Republican primary in District 4, said the commissioners should cut money from a variety of reserve accounts before they reduce employees’ salaries.

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/feb/09/valliere-unveils-pay-cut-plan-for-martin-wants/

Database: $100,000-plus government earners
http://www.tcpalm.com/data/100grand-earners-database/