Tony Overman/The Olympian
Pennie Sherman and husband Chip discuss retirement benefits Tuesday afternoon with analyst Jennifer Freeze at the Washington State Retirement Services in Tumwater. Pennie Sherman chose early retirement because her job with the Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse has been eliminated.

State budget crunch hits home; workers, agencies weigh options

PATRICK CONDON, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Wednesday, March 27, 2002

LACEY -- After working for the state of Washington for nearly 23 years, Pennie Sherman will retire this summer from her Department of Social and Health Services job.

The decision to retire became a bit easier when Sherman learned her position will be eliminated because of the state budget crunch.

"I was probably going to retire sometime this year anyway," Sherman, 57, said Tuesday. "I told them, 'I can retire when you need me to retire.' "

Sherman, who lives in Tumwater, is a planning specialist in the Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse at DSHS.

Sherman's job is one of 10 positions that will be eliminated out of the 94 members of the headquarters staff in Lacey.

Out of those 10 workers, Sherman and another colleague will retire. Another one of the 10 has already made plans to transfer into a different job that won't be eliminated -- at a significant pay cut.

A few of Sherman's co-workers probably won't have that option.

"Folks are trying to support each other as they can, and help each other find other options," said Ken Stark, the director of the division. "But for at least a few of them, there will probably be none."

The Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse took the first step in a scenario that is likely to be played out many times at numerous state agencies during the coming weeks and months.

Late Tuesday, DSHS officials announced that another office -- the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation -- will reduce its regional management staff by 13 positions, replacing them with two administrators, one for Western Washington and one for Eastern Washington.

Ticking clock

In all, the budget passed by the Legislature two weeks ago eliminates 1,620 full-time positions from the state payroll in 2002. The budget also creates 669 new positions in other parts of state government, for a net reduction of 951 jobs.

Agencies have until 15 days before June 30, the end of the 2001 fiscal year, to notify employees whose jobs are being eliminated.

Few workers are as lucky as Sherman, who is in a position to plan her departure from state service.

Her colleagues whose jobs are eliminated but want to keep working for the state will have to wait until they receive their "reduction in force" letter from their employer.

Then, those with seniority will be able to look for other positions in state government. If they find one that meets their qualifications and is filled by a less senior employee, they'll be able to invoke "bumping rights."

"It can get very complex, and it can take some time," said Judy Montoure, a rules manager at the Department of Personnel. "A lot of times, you'll see a domino effect -- someone with 10 years of seniority will bump someone with eight years of seniority, who'll bump someone with six years of seniority, and so on."

It could be the end of the year before the state is able to identify how many workers actually get laid off, Montoure said.

Still waiting

Many workers whose jobs have been placed on lists for possible elimination are still waiting for a final decision.

John McGee, who manages the academic computing program at The Evergreen State College, will lose his job if school officials decide to go through with a list of 5 percent budget cuts.

"Being on the list is not a fun place to be," McGee said.

A few weeks ago, McGee was so stressed out he didn't realize he was getting sick.

"Then I realized that stress doesn't make you sneeze," he said.

Evergreen officials won't decide how deeply to cut until the Board of Trustees decides whether to boost tuition above the already-approved 6.1 percent increase. A decision is not expected until June.

Under the 5 percent plan, Evergreen would eliminate 17.4 positions.

If his position is eliminated, McGee said, he'll first look for another job at the school. If that doesn't work out, he said, "I'll start asking, 'What is my exit strategy?' "

Sherman said while she sympathizes with her colleagues who get laid off, she's even more concerned for members of the community who benefit from services that will be cut.

For instance, one of Sherman's responsibilities is drawing up plans for providing alcohol and substance abuse treatment for the American Indian community.

"You can be sort of riding on the crest of a wave and then all of a sudden, 'Crash!' " Sherman said. "You need to look at these programs and realize, what is going to be the effect on the most vulnerable?"

Jobs eliminated, jobs gained

The budget passed by the Legislature two weeks ago eliminates 1,620 full-time positions from the state payroll in 2002. It also creates 669 new positions, for a net reduction of 951 jobs.

For more information

The Department of Personnel has a Web site for state employees who are facing the "reduction in force" process. It can be accessed at hr.dop.wa. gov/rif. The site includes details of the RIF process, job-seeking tips, and other services that the Department of Personnel offers for laid off or displaced state workers. It also includes a list of current state job openings.

On the Web:

- Washington State Department of Social and Health Services

- Careers Network

The Olympian Copyright 2002

back to State Workers index