All in this together

James City County offers the latest illustration of the tension between the pay of public employees and the willingness and ability to pay of the taxpayers who pick up the tab for government.

[sayagain]

This article is right on the money. The taxpayers everywhere thank you DP for expessing our position,

[SeymourPatrick]

What about no bonus and no pay increase?

These are very tough times, and a government employee who thinks he/she can do better in the private sector is encouraged to leave "public service" is welcomed to do so.

[Lee]

This is a very thoughtful, well-stated editorial.

[VietVet]

Wow! I can't believe the DP took this position.
The WJCC school admin is top heavy with staff as is JCC govt. The creation of the stormwater division in JCC should have been taken "out of hide" by using existing manpower positions in Neighborhood Connections.

Thanks for a good editorial.

[Living in James City]

Sounds like Mr Kennedy wrote this himself. It is the same poorly constructed thoughts he bores us with when he corners us at the local supermarket. Andy Bradshaw must be happy, he doesn't look like such a waste of space now. Give the people a raise so they can come eat in your over priced eatery. Maybe even go to a four day work week so they can come for lunch too.

[jackson masterfield]

DP needs to get their numbers right! blanket statements that Hampton City employees raises have out paced inflation is absolutly untrue.(I being one who worsk and lives in Hampton) our raises used to be based solely on merit not on the politics of elections and "convenient tax cuts".

those that perform satisfactory (2 out of 5) get only a 2% raise. Inflation has increased at 4% in recent years. with the average increase around 3% that hardly out paces inflation.

unlike police, teachers, and fire personnel, the staff that keep the city functioning have not seen the "competitive pay adjustments" as these professions have seen regularly over the last 5 years.

This has directly resulted in a "letting" of experienced and qualified staff to the falsely "struggling" private sector and to other loaclities in the region who can compensate well.

So DP do not include "executive" and safety/school pay scales in with the average staff, it is not fair. It makes me wonder where all of that "outpaced inflation pay" is going. not my pocket. Report fairly, even in an editorial.

[Common Sense]

I moved to JCC last year, and so far I am quite pleased with the fiscal responsibility displayed by the Republican BOS members. They are to be commended and encouraged to continue holding the line. The DP is to be commended for recognizing their efforts on behalf of all JCC taxpayers. Excellent editorial comments and acknowledgments of fact and reality.

[BuBBa]

If the whining public employess don't like it then I suggest they quit and go out into the private sector where they will have to compete on performance and not have it extorted from taxpayers.