Face The State Staff Report
Just a month after issuing a freeze in state hiring to address budget concerns, Gov. Bill Ritter recently authorized a day of administrative leave to state employees, leading Republicans to call the move “reckless.”
RitterFTS File Photo
Last Friday, Rich Gonzales, executive director of the Department of Personnel and Administration sent a memorandum (PDF) to all executive department heads authorizing them to grant a day of administrative leave to all employees at the end of the year. The move will impact all executive branch employees.
“State employees work hard and deserve to be recognized,” said state Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch. “But Ritter giving them a new benefit that could cost the state millions when we’re already $100 million in the hole is reckless and irresponsible.” The memo is printed on letterhead containing the motto, "Good Government Starts Here."
Last month Legislative Council staff, representing the non-partisan research arm for the General Assembly, released a report projecting a major budget shortfall. The forecast predicted the state is facing $100 million of debt.
The average salary for Colorado public employees in 2006 was $46,341, making them some of the highest paid state employees in the nation. On average, a typical state employee works 40 hours a week and receives two weeks of paid vacation every year.
Ritter authorized the DPA to give workers the option to take eight hours of paid leave on one of five days surrounding the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s holidays. According to Ritter spokesman Evan Dreyer. the authorization applies to approximately 26,000 employees.
Using those numbers, each worker will cost the state approximately $178 for the day taken off. Depending on how much of the two weeks paid vacation each state employee uses this year, the extra day off could potentially cost the state $4.62 million.
Republican Sen. Greg Brophy, of Wray, said he was shocked at the decision in the face of a major budget crisis.
“This guy is absolutely reckless with state dollars,” Brophy said.
Dreyer defended Ritter’s action by saying his administration has already taken conservative moves to brace for the faltering economy and that it is common to give state workers an extra day around the holidays.
“Ritter is the governor, not the Grinch,” Dreyer said. “This is not a random, unprecedented or irresponsible act," Dryer said. “The governor has already taken very conservative steps to address the budget crisis, including a hiring and construction freeze and a recommendation not to implement pay for performance increases next year.”
State departments and agencies are expected to still have coverage and remain operational during the days off.