
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 19, 1991                   TAG: 9102190407
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

NO TAX HIKE EXCEPT ON STATE EMPLOYEES

YOUR REASONING regarding state-employee furloughs seems as biased as your news reporting. You say the governor is not trying to balance the budget on the backs of state workers, but as yet, nobody else has been asked to carry any of the financial burden.

State employees have already suffered a 2 percent pay decrease. A proposed 15-day penalty layoff in fiscal 1991, not furlough as has been euphemistically applied, would correlate to an additional 6.5 percent pay cut. Yet you and the governor blindly plod ahead saying there hasn't been a tax increase.

There hasn't, except on the beleaguered state employee. I would suggest the next time the Roanoke Times & World-News feels the need for a subscription or advertising cost increase, you "furlough" your employees instead. Remember, all can't go at one time because you don't want to disrupt your essential services. Perhaps you should start with your editorial staff. RAYMOND E. POWELL BLACKSBURG

by CNB