HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter from County Employee 2.5.09 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FEB 0 6 2409
February 5, 2009 OROViLLE,CALIFORNIA
Board members, County administrator;
In dealing with our current economic mess I believe trying to find out
who is responsible is secondary to trying to keep people alive and well. There will be
plenty of time later to play the name game. As a County employee, and speaking for
others as well, I need to provide you with some ideas and suggestions that will be painfull
for all,yet better than some alternatives.
County employees are facing loss of income, loss of homes, loss of health insurance,
and for some, perhaps loss of life.We are willing to suffer as much as need be to sustain
some form of life. Here are some possible remedies to share the pain.
1. Salary decreases. This is a difficult but necessary choice. Hard to accept but
most people could eke by on as much as ten to fifteen per cent less income.
2. Four day work week. The public must feel the pain as well or they will never be
part of any solution. Closing County offices for a day would also eliminate work
being piled on to employees who are off on a furlough day, as well as saving the
cost of running the building.
3. County sales tax. A cruel but fair way to increase revenue. All persons, even out
of towners would pay a little more to help the County function.
4. Utility tax. The County has used this in the past, now is a time to do it again.
5. Worker furlough. Employees are willing to take time off without pay so long as
the money could be taken away in small increments throughout the year to
soften the blow.
These are just a few ideas being discussed in the offices.Almost all employees know the
reality of this current fiscal crisis and are willing to sacrifice much to sustain life to
others. Please consider all options seriously to avoid so many County workers being
forced to live on the street, if they can live at all.
With deep appreciation,
PM4A 4qi�t
Randy Frieze
776 Colusa Ave.
Oroville, CA 95965
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