Replace Benefit With Pay Hike

The workload of many county employees has increased as a result of budget and staff reductions during the last several years. Although staff was reduced, the workload was not. Remaining staff were required to be even more productive to meet the county’s service requirements. We met this requirement and increased productivity; now, we are being asked to do even more with significantly less salary.

The Education Incentive Program was implemented to motivate employees to pursue advanced education and reward them for this effort, thus enhancing retention and retraining of the county’s workforce. This is a crucial factor as the county asks employees to take on additional tasks and responsibilities in response to hiring freezes and additional reduction of staff.

The right to buy down vacation hours was given in lieu of salary increases and to save the county money. If this benefit is now to be reneged, it should be replaced with a commensurate increase in salary.

I agree with Supervisors John Flynn and Maria VanderKolk that the county should be driving a Chevrolet, not a Cadillac. However, that Chevrolet will not be a very effective vehicle if it only has two wheels and there is not enough fuel in the tank to reach its destination.

MARLAYN L. MORRISON

Administrative Officer

County Resource Management Agency

Ventura