False budget savings

Letter to SacBee by Mark Sheahan

November 14, 2003

The Bee was right on point in its Nov. 5 editorial "Watchdogs on a leash." It discussed how nonsensical it is that the California Medical Board is barred from filling vacancies because of the state's sweeping hiring freeze -- even though the department is funded entirely by licensing fees.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. The state refuses to acknowledge that departments with independent funding sources should be treated differently than departments that rely on General Fund dollars. Services vital to the state's economic rebound are being slashed or simply eliminated.

Caltrans is faced with a similar situation. The state plans to eliminate 1,600 Caltrans positions -- more reductions than any other department. Caltrans' payroll -- state-employed engineers and highway maintenance workers -- are paid for by special funds -- mainly the gas tax.

If the state is so desperate to reduce the general fund budget deficit, why focus on departments where the reductions don't save the general fund a dime? If they really want to save money, why is Caltrans contracting-out 600 jobs to private firms at twice the cost of having state employees do the work?

- Mark Sheahan, Sacramento

President, Professional Engineers in California Government