Supervisors Wilson and Ashley Volunteer for Pay Cuts
Fourth District Supervisor Roy Wilson and Fifth District Supervisor Marion Ashley volunteered for 2-day a month furloughs during today’s Board of Supervisors meeting.
“I decided that it’s time to set the example, to demonstrate that this budget crisis is serious,” Supervisor Wilson said. “We need to show all County employees that we are willing to share the pain, and it’s not just idle chat.”
The Supervisors said that, while they believe pay cuts are only temporary, they should remain in place until the economy has improved and the County’s budget is back on solid footing. The furloughs would become effective July 1.
Above all, Supervisor Wilson noted “Layoffs should be the last thing on the table.”
During this morning’s budget update, Supervisors noted that massive layoffs of county staff represent a triple whammy: Not only would they bring the pain of no pay to those laid off, but they would exacerbate an already elevated unemployment picture and reduce the services to county residents right at a time when they need them most.
Assessor Larry Ward also informed the Supervisors that he was willing to take the voluntary 10 percent pay cut, and the Supervisors encouraged all elected officials and the executive office to follow suit.
The County is anticipating at least a $100 million shortfall in revenues, mainly caused by the State’s ongoing budget meltdown.
Complying with a request from Second District Supervisor John Tavaglione, who is in Sacramento attempting to mitigate expected State raids on local government revenues, Wilson read an update on Tavaglione’s assessment of the State budget.
In his update, Tavaglione painted a gloomy picture, and urged that the Board of Supervisors delay a final budget until the County has time to study the final California budget. The four Supervisors in Riverside complied with his request, moving the final budget unveiling from the June 16 meeting until the final Tuesday of the month—June 30—which just happens to be the final day of the current fiscal year.