State Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry has ordered his five staffers to take a total of 40 unpaid days off because of the state budget crisis.
Three staffers are taking 10 furlough days this fiscal year, while two others are taking five days each, for a savings of $10,120.
Penry, a Grand Junction Republican, oversees the GOP minority office and its staff.
“I’ve got a great staff, and not only do they support my decision, but they agreed it was important symbolically for us to reduce our own spending first,” he said.
Penry also plans to take a pay cut, but he said the logistics are still being worked out. He gets an annual salary of $30,000, is eligible for up to $18,000 for per-diem expenses during the session, per diem in the off session when he is hand ling legislative matters, and mileage.
The state also is furloughing its workforce, with nonessential employees having to take four days this fiscal year as part of a plan to deal with what is a $384 million shortfall in the current budget year.
Gov. Bill Ritter said he and Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien are each taking four unpaid days this year. Ritter, who makes $90,000 a year, will write a check to the state for $1,252, his spokesman, Evan Dreyer, said. O’Brien makes $68,500 and will reimburse the state about $953.
Penry is one of three Republicans planning to run against Democrat Ritter next year.
Penry said he was also spurred to act after a recent complaint by House Majority Leader Paul Weissmann, D-Louisville.
Weissmann noted that although the House has 65 members and the Senate 35 members, the House Republicans and Democrats have smaller staffs than the Senate and the staffers are paid less.
The furloughs, Penry said, will help “push Senate salaries into great parity with the House.”
Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327 or lbartels@denverpost.com
