State workers unfairly being made scapegoats

Vishnu Subramaniam, Carson City

Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011 | 2:03 a.m.

It’s state budget time again in Nevada, which means one thing — time for partisan politicians and the chambers of commerce to try to scare everyday Nevadans about state employees. I’d like to rebut some of the more common myths about our state workforce:

Myth No. 1: State workers caused the economic crisis we’re in. While this is great political rhetoric, the truth of the matter is that banks, mortgage companies and Wall Street firms gamed our economic system for maximum gains.

Myth No. 2: State workers haven’t sacrificed enough. The governor unfortunately overlooks the fact that state workers have taken 4.6 percent cuts in their pay, through furloughs, and many have given up additional income of up to 8.4 percent in the past two years.

Myth No. 3: State workers are overpaid and earn more than private-sector employees. The Economic Policy Institute published a study in late 2010 showing that public-sector workers earn wages on average 11 percent less than their private-sector counterparts. Nevada also happens to have the leanest government of any state in the country — the lowest per capita number of workers.

Our state workers didn’t create the economic crisis we’re in, but they have been serving everyday Nevadans to help them recover from it. The real problem in our state is a broken tax system and the revenue crisis we’re experiencing.

Yes, it’s budget time again in Nevada, but there is no need to vilify our state’s heroes — it’s time to thank them for a job well done.

The writer is the chief of staff for AFSCME Local 4041, which represents Nevada state employees.