Vice President Olin King was unanimously elected ACSS president at the Oct. 25 board meeting in Sacramento. Twelve-year President Tim Behrens is retiring from state service and stepped down. King is from Chapter 511 in the Los Angeles area. Director Arlene Espinoza, of Sacramento Chapter 503, was unanimously elected vice president. The next board meeting is Jan. 9-11 in Sacramento.

(Oct. 23) When state workers face paycuts, or wages that don't keep up with inflation, or if they lose their jobs, their local economies suffer, reports The State Worker column today. State workers put an estimated $15 million a day into the economy of the Sacramento area alone, SEIU estimates.

The Sacramento Bee is reporting that, according to a report from the state auditor, 20 state workers from nine different departments and agencies were involved in improper on-the-job activities that cost taxpayers $201,000. Only some of that money is now being recovered.

After the recent 85-day budget battle, most Californians would like to see the budget process changed, at least according to a survey conducted this month by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California. The survey reveals that more than three-fourths of Californians want major changes in the budget process and nearly half support lowering the marjority required to pass the budget from two-thirds to 55 percent.

Terry Sutherland

The Sacramento Bee's "State Worker" blog on Sept. 25 features ACSS secretary-treasurer Terry Sutherland.

Columnist Jon Ortiz had written about an IRS proposal to change retirement age requirements and asked state workers to send their thoughts. Sutherland, a CPA, wrote Ortiz a letter analyzing the proposal as he sees it. Ortiz excerpted the letter and provided a link to read it in full.

A few very brief points from Sutherland's letter:

• Public safety workers likely won't be affected; they'll still be able to retire at 50.
• "Double-dipping" may be prevented.
• "Miscellaneous" state workers - like Sutherland - may need to wait until 55, not 50, to retire.
• The IRS proposal could be "sidetracked by the lobby tsunami."

Contact Jon Ortiz at jortiz@sacbee.com.

The State Worker columnist, Jon Ortiz, is once again asking for your thoughts. This time it's on a matter that pobably concerns most of you: your retirement.