Paying public employees
As a corollary to Marc Haiungs' Jan. 31 Community Voices piece "Don't balance budgets at expense of public servants' pensions," let me say in general the public gets its money's worth from public employees. I spent the last half of my career in the County Counsel's office, taking a pay cut of more than 60 percent when I left private practice. True, I was motivated by a desire for more family and church-work time, but what made it practical and possible was the retirement and fringe benefits. While with the County Counsel's office, I know I saved the county a minimum of $50 million in liability losses by vigorous defense in court, and loss prevention training of county employees.
I was not an exception. The majority of people with whom I worked were highly dedicated and effective. Indeed, I found county employees, on the whole, more efficient and productive than what I saw in the private sector providing legal services to major corporations and businesses. If we want competent public employees, we need to offer an attractive package of pay and benefits. Traditionally, and for me, that meant less pay during my career in exchange for good health insurance and a secure, and not excessive, retirement income.
Bob Woods
Kernville
