The Ritter administration Thursday further backed off a proposal altering the time-off policies for state employees, which could cost the state millions of dollars.
And some Democratic lawmakers, noting new projections that the state will bring in $700 million less over the next five years than previously expected, distanced themselves from the new policy, calling it financially unfeasible.
“I think the idea is a nonstarter. It would be fiscally irresponsible at this point,” said Assistant Majority Leader Terrance Carroll, D-Denver.
Evan Dreyer, spokesman for the governor, said there “are no plans to move forward with this.” However, he indicated the plan may still be considered.
“Is it something that might get looked at? Yes,” he said.
The Ritter administration has spent months looking at a proposal that would change 30,000 state employees’ “vacation” and “sick” time to a single time-off designation called “personal time.” The plan could cost millions of dollars when those employees leave their jobs and is likely to increase the number of days employees take off.
Republican lawmakers said they would put a footnote in the budget creating a funding prohibition for any new leave policy. And some, still chafing at Ritter’s executive order last year granting state workers the power to negotiate with management, said the governor was catering to organized labor.
“We need to stop any possible implementation of this policy,” said state Sen. Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction. “This is just another example of Gov. Ritter cutting a sweetheart deal with labor unions.”
Passage of a footnote is unlikely, as Ritter has final veto power.
Karen Crummy: 303-954-1594 or kcrummy@denverpost.com
