Gov. Brown Plans State Worker Pay Cuts

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Some state workers believe Gov. Jerry Brown's latest budget proposal is going to stick it to them again.

He wants California's public employees to take a 5-percent pay cut to help chip away at the nearly $16 billion budget deficit.

"We're not going to get out of it in a year, or maybe two years," said Brown.

The 5-percent salary cut would come from reducing most state workers to 38 hour, four day, work weeks.

"A 5-percent cut to the government salaries will have a major impact," said Sacramento State Prof. Sanjay Varshney.

Some economic experts say this will add to the capital city's economic woes.

One-third of the region's economy is driven by government jobs. Smaller salaries means less spending; and essentials aren't getting any cheaper.

"Inflation has really caused everything else to go up in price," said Varshney.

So some sate workers are going to be really hurting and rethinking their own budgets.

"So its like double wammy for my family," said state worker Julie Renteria.

"I've changed the way I buy my groceries and stuff," said state worker Jason Fritz.

Some are looking for a silver lining.

"It's not as bad as it could be and it's certainly not as bad as it was three years ago," said state worker Mike Taylor.

Taylor remembers the furlough days when employee's salaries were cut close to 15 percent.

He's watching his discretionary income now.

Businesses near the capital are trying to stay positive.

"Maybe people, instead of five or six beers, will cut it down to three or four," said Randy Rodriguez, Firestone.