Symbolic cuts important as councils, boards struggle with budgets

Modesto Bee: March 02, 2009 09:21:36 PM

City councils and school boards are cutting budgets right and left as they deal with declining revenue from property taxes, sales taxes and other sources. The reductions add up to substantial numbers. But there's another kind of cut that's important -- the symbolic cut, the kind that tells employees and residents "we're in this mess together." State legislators didn't grasp this concept; they continued to collect their pay and expenses while taking more than 100 days to make decisions. Locally, we're seeing some folks who understand the value of the symbolic cut. One is Modesto City Schools board member Steve Grenbeaux, who a year ago suggested that he and his six board colleagues take a $50 cut in their $750 monthly stipend. His proposal went nowhere, though Grenbeaux went ahead and took less pay.Monday night, Grenbeaux planned to bring up the idea again, this time proposing a $25 monthly cut, amounting to a 3 percent-plus reduction. The outcome of his proposal was not available at our deadline.Several weeks ago, Turlock Unified School District Superintendent Sonny Da Marto offered to take a 3 percent reduction in his base salary. Again, we think, it was a good gesture.

Tempers are short out there as some families struggle to keep their homes and pay the most basic bills. There are those who suggest elected leaders should forego any salary or benefits, and that the highest-paid government administrators should take large whacks. That's not always fair. But the people at the top have to make some sacrifice, too. Sometimes small cuts for many people can add up to substantial numbers. That's the case for the city of Turlock unions, who've tentatively agreed to contribute 5 percent of their salaries toward health insurance premiums or pensions. It adds up to a potential savings of $1.2 million and could save some jobs. We applaud their action.

Modesto city management is negotiating with its unions, also hoping for concessions to reduce the number of layoffs, which are now inevitable. We hope they'll have some success. Elected boards need to look beyond personnel to projects, postponing some items if it's not too disruptive and crossing some things off the to-do list. We're in a new time, requiring a new attitude and sensitivity in spending the public's money. That's why symbolic cuts are important.

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Don Quixote Note: Modesto is our sister City for more than 25 years. Pictures from the 25th year celebration can be found at the Modesto Sister City Website.