Edit: Taking Care Of Government

In an editorial Sunday, the Coeur d’Alene Press note that recent raises provided to local government employees ran from 1% to 12% — and that doesn’t count the additional health care benefits. The Press warns that local business should worry about losing good employees to government jobs with better pay and benefits:

“You may have noticed news stories announcing public sector raises from 1 to as much as 12 percent. You may also have noticed that in almost every case, the public bodies - actually, you, the taxpayers - are absorbing increased benefits costs. For instance, Kootenai County is ensuring its employees won’t have to fork over the $900 or so additional health insurance dollars in the coming year that the county must pay for every full-time worker. The gist of all this good news for public employees is, in our view, twofold. First, taxpayers in many cases are financing greater increases than they themselves are receiving. Apparently that’s OK, because very few taxpayers have complained about the raises teachers, street maintenance workers, sheriff’s deputies and many others are receiving. The other point is that private sector employers should be paying close attention. If they’re worried about losing good employees to other private sector businesses, they’re not worried enough. For many talented employees, those government jobs are looking better all the time.” More here.

Question: Would you like to be employed by the local, state or federal government?