Yes, that is a good idea.
>The extremely tight budget situation is perhaps the biggest news in Boise.
>Mal and Gary say it's the tightest they've seen in 10 years. The biggest
>impact locally will be the elimination of the 2% salary increase for state
>employees and the $1.5 million salary equity monies for higher educaton.
I find that very, very, very depressing, and I know that is the impression
on campus, as well.
The future of the university has come up in the faculty meetings in my
department, already, re budgets, and what they imply.
At the Sattelite Sub, I was asked point blank by a staff member about the
2% going to a rainy day fund, to be an emergency pool for possible flood
responses. That long-term staff member was tied in to the Staff Affairs
Committee and hence to other staffers. That person was not a happy one.
Why is it, Tom, that our state is so poor, and so niggardly, repeatedly
over the years, in how it compensates its public servants? I thought the
national economy was doing very well, and that employment is high. Is the
econompy in our state really that depressed, or, are Idahoans simply
unwilling to pay appropriately for the public services they receive????
You are "there", in Boise. Just who do you hear from for your input?
Mostly lobbyists, or, citizens?
I appreciate your sharing the news. I hope you keep in touch with this
list as the session continues.
Sam Scripter
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scripter@mines.uidaho.edu ;-) (Sam M W Scripter)
MoscowSam/GeoSam/PiperSam/RiderSam/SamTheHam/SamIam!
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(snip ... the rest of Trail's missive)