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

DATE: THURSDAY, March 21, 1991                   TAG: 9103210450
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: WILLIAM SCOTT
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

LET LINE WORKERS CUT STATE-BUDGET FAT

THAT DOES it. I need to respond to the March 9 letter ("In real world . . . ") by Michael Gray. There is an assumption in his letter, the latest of responses to the Fosbres' letter (Feb. 14), that state employees are overpaid, coddled, lucky, and should have to try to get real jobs in the private sector.

This is not the case for many state employees. I find myself asking why I continue to work for the state when I am continually undervalued, neglected and underpaid.

I work for a service unit providing supervision and family therapy to families referred to the juvenile court. As such, I have invested 22 years in education (10 years beyond high school), am a licensed professional counselor, a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists, and am getting credentials as a supervisor (a personal expense that will benefit the state, those I supervise, and the families I work with).

I was recently given evidence of my undervaluation when our department sought outside consultants to help administer a new program. The position, one for which I would be qualified, would be paid more than my annual salary for approximately 20 hours' work per week. I make approximately half of what I would if I did get a real job in the real world. Maybe I should accept Mr. Gray's challenge.

Why do I stay? I have a personal commitment to those I work with and for. I provide a much-needed service to the public, largely the less fortunate and working-class poor who cannot afford this service in the private sector. I resent being asked to accept a furlough when I am already making a substantial personal sacrifice. I believe there are others like myself working for the state.

There is "fat" in the state system, cuts are needed; but often those put in charge of cutting the fat are part of the fat. I say, give the knives to the meat, the line workers for the state; they know where the fat is. They are not part of the layers of bureaucracy.

Sadly, if these state practices continue, there will be fewer exceptions to the "coddled state employee" theory, Mr. Gray will be closer to reality, and the state will be left with those who are "hitching" a ride on the taxpayer. Remember, there is a group of state employees who might be paid more than the average Virginian, and probably less than their worth. The state and the taxpayer should have an interest in keeping them to ensure a high quality of service.

by CNB