February 2010
Chandler Officials Worried About 'Home Rule' Vote
Chandler voters will have the chance to continue the "home rule" option when they go to the polls May 18 but city officials are worried that a one-cent sales tax increase on the same ballot will lead many to vote against both proposals.
The "home rule" option allows the city to exceed state-mandated spending limits and it has been approved seven times since 1980. If it's not approved, the city will have to cut $49 million from an already-lean budget, according to the story in the Arizona Republic.
Brewer Proposes Drastic Health Care Cuts
Gov. Jan Brewer has proposed a series of health care cuts that would result in the loss of as many as 42,000 jobs and nearly $3 billion in federal matching funds, according to an Arizona State University study commissioned by the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association.
Among other things, her proposal would ask voters to reduce the number of people eligible for AHCCCS and would eliminate KidsCare which currently provides health care coverage to 63,000 children of working parents, according to the Arizona Republic. Read more ...
SEIU Urges Alternatives to Chandler Layoffs
Chandler Chapter President James Kame says the city could avoid the need for 39 layoffs by offering retirement incentives to approximately 100 Chandler city employees. SEIU and the City developed a retirement incentive plan last year that was accepted by 62 employees and saved numerous jobs.
The City of Chandler is looking at a $17.5 million budget deficit for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010 and budget recommendations include a call for the elimination of 58 city jobs, 19 of which are already vacant, according to a story in the Arizona Republic.
City councillors Matt Orlando and Jeff Weninger asked city administrators to look at retirement incentives, furloughs, job-sharing and other alternative to layoffs. However, Mayor Boyd Dunn and Councilman Jack Sellers believe the recommended job cuts will preserve important city services.
ADOA Cancels Pay Cut Hearing
At 5:04 pm Feb. 8, members of the SEIU State Employees delegation who were planning to attend the hearing on the proposed 5% pay cut were advised that the hearing scheduled for Feb. 9 has been cancelled.
"When the oral proceeding is rescheduled, a Notice of Oral Proceeding on Proposed Rulemaking will be published at least 30 days in advance in the Arizona Administrative Register," said the email from Christine Bronson, Employee Relations Manager with the Arizona Department of Administration.
However, your comments will still be delivered to the Employee Relations Department at ADOA. To date, we have received more than 125 comments that clearly articulate the damage a 5% pay cut will do to state employees at work and at home.
If you haven't had your say yet, Click here to voice your concerns.
The SEIU State Employee delegation will stay in touch with ADOA and if/when another hearing on the pay cut is scheduled, we'll let you know. And we will continue to advocate for furloughs as an alternative to pay cuts if state employees are called on again to sacrifice even more to balance the state budget.
5% Pay Cut? Have Your Say
On Tuesday, February 9, the Arizona Department of Administration is set to discuss a 5% pay cut for state workers. It's a public hearing so let's tell the State what we think.
Unfortunately, the hearing is scheduled for 2 pm. So while rules are made about cutting state employees' pay, you're probably going to be hard at work for Arizona citizens. However, a delegation of SEIU Arizona members will be there to speak out and stand up for state workers.
We've already sacrificed a lot. Can we afford more? Where do you think additional cuts should come from? Send us your thoughts, comments or questions and we will deliver a message to the State.
Click here to voice your concerns about a 5% pay cut for state workers. Nearly 100 state employees have already taken the time to send in their comments. Keep 'em coming and let's make sure the state knows how we feel.
Want to know more about Tuesday's hearing? Download a copy of the proposed rules.
House OKs Sales Tax Vote
Arizona voters will have a chance to vote on a penny-per-dollar sales tax increase after the House of Representatives voted 34-25 today to place the issue on the May 18 ballot.
The governor had asked legislators to pass a bill authorizing the increase but both the Senate and the House voted to put the question to voters. If voters vote for the increase, the state sales tax will increase to 6.6 cents on the dollar on June 1.
The sales tax would be temporary, lasting three years, and would bring in an estimated $900 million in annual revenue. Read more in the Arizona Republic and the East Valley Tribune.
Senate Votes to Ask for Sales Tax Increase
In a 16-12 vote today, the state Senate voted to put the issue of a 1-cent sales tax increase on the May 18 ballot.
If passed by the House, Arizonans would be asked if we want to increase the sales tax to 6.6 percent. The increase would be temporary, lasting for 3 years only, and would raise an estimated $900 million per year.
Even if the House votes to put it on the ballot and voters pass the sales tax initiative, revenues from the increase will not have any affect on this year's budget deficit. Read more in the East Valley Tribune.
Chandler Advises SEIU of Possible Layoffs
The City of Chandler has advised SEIU that a total of 58 city jobs must be cut in order to get a projected deficit of $17.5 million under control. Our agreement with the city calls for 60 days' notice of any potential layoffs of SEIU-represented employees.
Nineteen of those jobs are vacant, leaving 39 active employees to be laid off, according to this story in the Arizona Republic. Five Rangers and two Fire Department positions would be eliminated and library hours would be shortened, amongst other service cuts.
"It's a very stressful time" for Chandler employees, said Mary Lou Zavala, a member of the SEIU Chandler Chapter Bargaining Team, in a story in the Arizona Republic.