We've gotten another round of steep budget cuts at work.
I work for a state agency. All the other agencies are either receiving an increase in their budgets this year or maintaining, and we get another cut. We have received a total of 48% in budget cuts over the last 3 years. We've laid off nearly half our staff, upper management has taken pay cuts (steeper ones than the rest of us), we operate with the lights off most of the year, we purchase our own office supplies, we all get furloughs (which may double to meet the new budget requirements), most of us work extended hours without pay just to cover all the different departments that need to be done, and our security doesn't come in during the day time any more during the summer when work is slightly less hectic.
With the new budget cut, we're going to have to cut 6-8 more positions, take another furlough day, and possibly reduce our security permanently. Upper management may take another pay cut, and at least one is retiring this year to reduce the financial burden on the agency.
Now, to be honest, security is pretty useless. Whenever we report anything security-related to them, their first response has always been, "I didn't do it, it's not my fault." That is usually followed by "It's not my job". and then they hunt for someone to blame, even if it's not something that needs blame, like a gate being stuck or a lock not working. This is the same security agency that had one of their officers escorted off our grounds by the police for threatening an employee. And if it is something that is their fault, they will do their best to find someone else to lay the blame on. If we're lucky, they actually do what they are supposed to do. The day security officer doesn't answer his cell phone half the time, so I usually end up having to take care of the issue myself. I won't mind them being reduced even if it means I have to work an extra hour a day and not get a lunch break anymore. It would be so worth it to not have to deal with them any more.
I found a way for us to have an extra $20,000.00: money that was in 2 different postal accounts that our CFO was able to transfer out and put into the general fund, and I've been controlling the fleet keys for a year and reported that except for one or 2 days a year, we didn't need 6 vehicles, we could get by on 4. That will cover my salary, so by finding that money, my job is safe for one more year. Yeah, I know. I work hard for barely above minimum wage. But it's an easy job that I can do with my disabilities (the hearing and the hand). I don't think I'll be able to find that much money in the agency again. There just isn't aren't any more expenses we can cut.
Budget cuts next year could end my job because another round of budget cuts will close the agency. We just won't have enough funds to stay open.
Finding another job at my age - and losing that retirement fund again - is going to be really tough. I've already lost 2 retirement pensions due to the companies going out of business. I'd kind of relied on a state job always being there, particularly the agency I chose.
This job was supposed to be my last job, the one that would let me build up a decent retirement fund so I wouldn't be reliant upon just Social Security. I vest for early retirement in 6 years and full retirement in 10, and if I can hang on for 14 more years, I can earn a bonus so my retirement will actually pay more than my working income. And of course, the Social Security is supposed to be somewhat larger if I can wait until afer I am 70. Assuming the agency stays open that long.
I am too old to start over again and I don't relish living on a reduced Social Security from having to take it early, which is probably what will happen if the agency closes its doors next year.
I can sell my house and make it to 70 off the proceeds, as I am among those whose houses are worth far more than what is owed on them. I'll have to do that because I won't be able to afford the mortgage without a job and I'll need the income to live on.