Jan 8, 2009 4:42 pm US/Pacific
State Worker Families Suffer Amid CA. Cash Crisis
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
A casualty of the cash crisis is state workers and their families. CBS13 spoke with one family who is taking a $15,000 pay cut and cutting costs just to keep their daughter in college.
"I'm not sure how we're going to cut enough corners," says Susan Knadle.
For 20 years, Susan and Charles have worked as Toxicologists for the California Environmental Protection Agency, which is now facing a ten percent cut.
"Susan and I together, I think the total amount we'd be losing is about $15,000 a year," explains Charles Salocks.
With both salaries slashed, they worry about their mortgage payment and helping their daughter afford graduate school.
"Not having many options but to take out loans. That's all we can do," says Charles.
So like most of us these days, they're cutting back everywhere they can.
"We're not parking across the street anymore. We're taking the train in and walking. I'm riding my bike to the train station," Charles said.
"We don't go out to eat, we bring our lunch," says Susan.
They say they're even more concerned about the big picture; the work they do for Californians. As their agency scales back, their research projects will suffer delays. Charles develops methods to clean up toxic meth labs, and Susan specializes in school safety by identifying harmful campus chemicals.
"Our work directly affects the public health," Susan explains.
They understand the state's cash crisis, but want the Governor to make smarter cuts instead of slashing ten percent across the board. Charles and Susan say their pay cut won't save much because they're paid out of a special fund.
"I would appreciate a little more thought into their decision making," Charles tells CBS13.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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