As a state pensioner for more than six years and a state employee for 30 years, I am concerned about the proposed budget. As an assistant director in financial management and budgeting, I know departments, including the legislative and judicial branches, can cut their non-salary budget lines by 10% department/office-wide and not have their programs greatly affected, delay 50% of their capital expenditures, cut all casual/seasonal employees, eliminate all travel (that means you folks, too), and reduce contractual services by 10%.

    According to the Delaware State News, the state budget for 2002 was $2.3 billion; the 2009 budget was $3.35 billion. That’s a 46% increase. Who else has increased their budget by 46%? And that was not due to salary increases for employees. Except, of course, the department heads and legislators who have received their “due” based on that “Minner Commission,” employees have received only a few minor salary increases, no cost of living increase and no step increases toward mid-point. So who/what has been sucking on the proverbial sow?

    It seems any time the budget is in trouble, the state employees are the first and hardest to get hit. Why not take a look at the budget growth and reduce some of the programs that have caused the increase? Why not eliminate all the casual-seasonal employees? We have no obligation to them. They are expecting to be cut. They are not supposed to be on board for more than six months. I know casual/seasonals who have been on the payroll for years, and I am sure you do, too. Eliminate all proposed summer casual/seasonals as well. The newspaper mentioned you would need to furlough 1,500 employees to get the effects of an 8% salary cut. I am willing to bet there are more than 1,500 casual/seasonal employees on the payroll.

    Why not return the “Minner Commission” beneficiaries’ salaries to the 2002 level? Those are the employees who can afford the 8% reduction in pay. An 8% salary cut for all employees? Do you realize there are employees who qualify for food stamps? Are you really proposing an 8% cut in their wages? Why not something graduated like 5% for those making over $90,000; 3% for those making $75,000-$90,000; 2% for those making $50,000-$75,000; 1% for those between $25,000 to $50,000; and no reduction for those making under $25,000? And be sure that this is a temporary reduction in wages. When the economy turns around, employee salaries are the first budget increase that gets funded.

    If the governor and legislators allow the Minner Commission increases to go into effect again this time, not one of you deserves to be re-elected next time. We’ll be watching.

    So, my friends, gather-up your fat little piglets (including your pet programs and projects) and put them on a diet. Move them away from the trough. Spread the pain beyond the state employees who already sacrifice more than 3% per year in salary increases when they don’t get any cost of living increases.