Plan puts an unfair burden on public employees

Annette Bonder, Las Vegas

Thursday, April 7, 2011 | 2:02 a.m.

If someone’s salary is reduced by Nevada, without reducing the hours or quantity of work that is expected, isn’t the state actually taxing the income of the employee?

That is what Gov. Brian Sandoval’s proposed budget is attempting to do. Inherent in it is an income tax for teachers and other public employees. (I’m a longtime retired teacher from New York who now occasionally works for the Clark County School District as a substitute teacher.)

And since the governor’s proposals would also increase workloads by reducing the workforce, those who are left and continue to work in Nevada’s schools, firehouses, etc., will have greater pressure on them to make up for the workloads of their colleagues who have been let go.

So, is it prudent to reduce salaries, increase workloads and demoralize public employees who take care of us and teach our children, our most precious possessions?

Is it fair to tax the incomes of those who work in the public sector while the rest of Nevada workers have no state income tax at all?