:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, June 16, 2009
By JULIA GLICK
The Press-Enterprise
All Riverside County supervisors and several other elected officials have volunteered for 10 percent pay cuts to help save money and to demonstrate solidarity with workers who are being asked to make concessions, it was announced Tuesday.
Supervisors Roy Wilson and Marion Ashley requested and were granted 10 percent pay reductions last week. They encouraged other elected officials to do the same. Supervisor John Tavaglione, who was traveling last week on county business, announced Tuesday he would join them. Supervisors Jeff Stone and Bob Buster followed suit. "We need to set the example for our employees in these very difficult times," Tavaglione said. "I think our board should be unanimous in that regard."
Supervisors will each see a cut of about $14,300 to their annual $143,000 salaries. The cuts would last at least one year and could be renewed based on the county's financial position. County Executive Officer Bill Luna next week plans to propose that managers take similar cuts to their pay and benefits, according to a county news release. Auditor-Controller Robert Byrd, Treasurer-Tax Collector Don Kent and Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder Larry Ward have also requested cuts.
The county is working to close a $130 million revenue shortfall in the fiscal year that begins July 1. It has sought concessions from several employee unions.In April, supervisors authorized Luna to impose cuts and furloughs on managers who are not represented by unions.
The county is running out of time on the budget, Luna said in a written statement. Hopefully, unions will recognize the budget crisis and agree to their share of cuts, he added. The county plans to adopt a budget June 30.
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