Projo Politics Blog

Governor Carcieri announced Monday afternoon that he will impose a one-day pay cut for many state employees, to help close the state's $70 million deficit for the year that ends June 30.

The state budget office estimates the one-day pay reduction -- to be reflected in the June 12 paycheck -- will save Rhode Island taxpayers approximately $2.44 million. Affected employees will be given one additional day of paid leave during the pay period to help compensate, according to a statement by the Carcieri administration.

A Carcieri spokeswoman was careful not to call the cut a furlough.

"This was a very difficult decision," Carcieri said in a statement. "Last year, state employees helped to address the fiscal crisis with the current labor agreement which included higher health insurance copays and no raise in the 2009 fiscal year, and I am very appreciative of their efforts. Unfortunately, the state's economic situation has worsened, and we have no other choice but to implement the one-day pay reduction that was negotiated."

Carcieri said he has asked the state's other general officers, the Legislature and the courts to extend the pay cut to employees of those offices.

Officials for Lieutenant Gov. Elizabeth Roberts, General Treasurer Frank T. Caprio, Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch and Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis all confirmed that they will go along with the plan.

The state's courts have also agreed to the reduction, which will include both judges and magistrates. And a House spokesman said the Joint Committee on Legislative Services, which oversees the General Assembly, agreed last fall to implement a one-day cut.

The Providence Journal is following this story as it develops. Our initial report was posted at 4:57 p.m.

 Tags  pay cut state employees

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