The World Around You

I knew this was coming. I was present at the Prattville City Council meeting where the mayor stated he was proposing to eliminate four of the city employees’s holidays to save money. I knew at that moment that it would only be a matter of time before someone would call for the state government to do the same. Well, the Birmingham News stepped up to the plate today,

Officials in the state capital who are searching for ways to tighten their belts should look to the north for inspiration.

City officials in Prattville this week eliminated four paid holidays for city workers - a move they say will save $200,000.

Officials cut Columbus Day, President’s Day, Jefferson Davis’ birthday and Confederate Memorial Day - and city workers will still be left with nine paid holidays. Although the employees may not be thrilled with the change, they should understand the rationale behind the City Council’s actions.

Taxpayers certainly will. The number of paid holidays in government has long been an irritant to many in the private sector who get far fewer days. Government workers get so many holidays that the list includes some pretty obscure holidays.

That’s why others in government should consider following Prattville’s example.

Start with state government.

In addition to their annual leave, state workers have at least 12 paid holidays (and historically, 13, when the Friday after Thanksgiving is added). While some state offices can just shut down for these days, others must stay open to run prisons, mental health facilities and so on, and they must pay time-and-a-half for workers. Either way, taxpayers are getting shortchanged - they’re not getting services, or they’re having to pay extra to get them.

I agree that state holidays should be reduced. I see no reason for workers to be off on Confederate Memorial Day or Jefferson Davis’s Birthday to start.

My only criticism is that at some point the reduction in benefits to state employees is going to have a negative impact on productivity. With the elimination of jobs, proposed increases in payments for health insurance, reduction in the amount the state will reimburse for travel, suspension of merit raises (instituted over a year ago) and other proposals you may reach a point where few people want to take a job with the state. The state has many dedicated employees who work hard for the citizens of this state. Reasonable reforms are necessary, punishment is not.