Senator proposes state worker salary cut

By David Ammons

Associated Press

OLYMPIA — A senior Senate Democrat, hoping to head off deep state budget cuts and layoffs, on Tuesday proposed a 5 percent salary cut for all state employees for one year.

"We’ve got to get innovative, really think outside the box during times like these," Sen. Darlene Fairley, D-Lake Forest Park, said in an interview. "If people out in the rest of the world are having to tighten their belts, why shouldn’t we be a part of that?"

Her proposal is that all public employees, including the governor and legislators, state agency workers, higher education employees and teachers, agree to a 5 percent pay cut in the upcoming fiscal year, which begins next summer.

She hasn’t run the numbers, but believes the savings might be enough to head off major budget cuts, including employee layoffs.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee estimated that if lawmakers canceled a scheduled pay raise for state employees and higher education professors and staffers and cut their pay 5 percent, it would save $140 million. There are about 90,000 public employees, not counting teachers.

Teacher salaries are negotiated at the local level and probably could not be cut, particularly following voter approval of Initiative 732 last year mandating annual cost-of-living increases, the committee staff said.

Gov. Gary Locke’s budget director, Marty Brown, said he’s discussed Fairley’s plan with her. "We did look into it, but it’s not something we’re looking at right now" as the administration puts a new budget together.

Fairley, a senior member of the budget-writing committee and chairwoman of the construction budget panel, said the state faces a temporary revenue problem and that it makes more sense to cut salaries than to reduce frontline services that people need in a recession. If everyone takes a pay cut, it should save some of their fellow workers’ jobs, she said.

"At a time when Boeing is laying off, state government shouldn’t be laying off, too, or you start really spiraling down the economy," she said.

Fairley said she got the idea for the pay cut from her son, whose company, Fortee software in Kirkland, cut salaries by 15 percent to save jobs.

Greg Devereux, head of the Washington Federation of State Employees, AFL-CIO, praised Fairley for trying to head off layoffs and service cuts, but said the union can’t agree to pay cuts.

"There are many other ideas we ought to look at before we talk about such things," he said in an interview. Those include using state reserves of about $450 million and repealing some of the $1.2 billion worth of tax cuts granted in the past decade, he said.

Massive layoffs to solve a temporary financial problem would end up costing plenty in retraining and recruitment costs, Devereux said.

Earlier in the day, Brown said in a prepared statement about budget woes that "state-funded employees may see some changes in compensation or benefits packages, but no one’s made any decisions about that yet."

In an interview, Brown said that statement was simply a warning that "We don’t want to take anything off the table right now."

Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

Aaron Kennedy / The Herald
The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide.
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.