re: Massive layoffs and pay cuts likely coming to state and local governments

The state and local government better wake up. If they don't cut staff and expenses upfront they'll never get another chance to offset the deficits this is going to create. Is they start deficit spending that will lead to high taxes and tax payer flight.

Open businesses, get tax revenue, stay afloat.

I feel, at the minimum, there should have been furloughs for a couple of days a month from the get-go. Especially federal & state.

I assume I will be hit by this. I work in higher ed. so I am just counting down.

quote:

---

Well, maybe this is the silver lining. Showing that government at all levels across the country is bloated and can be downsized and still function

---

Not at all levels, just the levels that don’t have a magical money printing press.

quote:

---

I'm all for cutting state pensions, including per diems and food/housing/travel allowances of state legislators, and their state pensions (if any). They should ALL be in 401ks. Those currently receiving state pensions should be forced to convert to 401ks. I believe this can be done through state bankruptcy. States are not going to be able to continue making current pension payments so revenue is very likely going to try to be raised through additional taxes.

---

Pensions could have been successful, if it weren't for the massive abuse and also kicking the can down the road on pension liability payments.

LSP officers boosting their last three years with fraudulent overtime to maximize the pension, for example...

I feel sorry for the government workers who are actually stellar employees. They exist, and they're going to get screwed by this.

quote:

---

I feel, at the minimum, there should have been furloughs for a couple of days a month from the get-go. Especially federal & state.

---

Agreed. There was absolutely no reason to have your entire workforce sitting at home getting paid when most were probably doing very little while knowing that a massive revenue shortfall was coming.

Furloughs will be coming down the road though. It’s unavoidable at this point. I don’t see some massive reduction in positions though. You may lose some because of the pay cuts but not many. No one wants to walk away from the pension. Maybe this will finally force them away from the pension model. I don’t believe the Feds should bailout the state’s failing pensions. If they want to plug a budget gap with a one time payment, that’s one thing.

Problem is you can open businesses, but many businesses are not going to return to pre-virus levels anytime soon. Many are going to be reluctant to go to restaurants, fly on an airplane, go to a movie,take a cruise,etc..

I know a secretary (state position) for a judge. She works in the office now and again and during hte summer when it's slow, they roll the phones to home and take turns taking the week off but get paid. WTF??

Is it necessary for the DMV to have 28 clerks behind the counter but 4 of them actually working at any given time ? Maybe they can take this opportunity to streamline operations a bit.