There he goes again; Senator Zarelli goes after step increases

Like autumn's falling leaves, Sen. Joseph Zarelli's perennial attack on your step increases has returned again for what seems like the umpteenth time.

Step increases are not pay raises. They are salary. They are part of the pay the state promises its employees when they come to work for the state.

Step increases in fact are an actuarial accounting tool that saves the state money. By phasing in pay over the first six years or so of a state worker's employment, the state saves from having to pay the full salary from Day 1. With the normal turnover of state employees, the state is never paying full salary for all its workers.

One way to think of it is step increases give the state a discount on paying its employees.

So these misguided perennial attacks on step increases and health benefits and more of what you get as a state employee deflect from the real issues.

Sen. Zarelli can cut your step increases, but that's no guarantee that will reverse the cuts to public safety in Community Corrections, or bolster the juvenile rehabilitation continuum of care, or stop the disabled and mentally ill from being summarily ejected from caring campuses like Frances Haddon Morgan Center or Rainier School or the PALS program at Western State Hospital.

So, we need to say to Sen. Zarelli and the rest of his colleagues in the Legislature, both Democrats and Republicans, move off the phony issue of step increases and instead support a Book 2 budget that:

• generates new revenue;
• suspends targeted tax breaks;
• and asks us where to find common sense efficiencies to protect public safety and quality services.
• We need a budget that does no more harm and preserves the quality of life in Washington.

Call 1-800-562-6000 and give legislators that message.