Work to secure the public sector
Published 12:35 a.m., Monday, January 31, 2011
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FontThe governor's inauguration is over and the speeches read. It's time for the real work to begin. New York has nearly an $11 billion budget deficit. An incredible amount of financial pain awaits us.
The private sector is experiencing that pain right now. Those who have jobs are working harder, longer and for less money than before this recession started. Yet, the public sector has enjoyed increased salaries and benefits in the name of contractual obligations.
Granted, some public sector jobs have been eliminated but not enough to compare to the 800,000 private sector jobs that have disappeared. The public sector propaganda machine is ramping up to intimidate Gov. Andrew Cuomo to leave it alone in upcoming budget negotiations. Radio, TV and newspaper ads will try to sway public opinion and bully the state Legislature. Threats of failure to re-elect will surface.
This must stop. With a decreasing private-sector work force, the base to support the public sector is disintegrating. Public-sector salaries and benefits must be frozen and cut to match the private sector. Double dipping must be eliminated. Departments have to be consolidated. Property and school taxes must be cut and not capped at an annual 2 percent increase.
We must contact the governor and legislators to support these actions. There is more pain to follow but if we don't start now, the public sector will collapse and we will have nothing.
RIC WELLS
Wilton
Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Work-to-secure-the-public-sector-986879.php#ixzz1GLDuA2ow
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