May 14th, 2009

On Wednesday, Governor Rendell sent letters to 80,000 state workers saying that if a budget is not passed by June 30 employees will stay on the job but may not recieve their paychecks until the governor signs the budget.  These employees will recieve back pay after the fact, and their healthcare would not be affected, reports the Patriot-News.

“I know that delayed pay would present a significant financial challenge for many of you,” Rendell stated in the letter. “I wanted to provide you with as much advance notice as possible so that you might begin planning for this potential disruption.”

David Fillman, executive director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 13, said he finds it distressing that, although the administration’s approach is different this year, one thing remains the same: “Employees once again are going to be caught in the middle of a budget impasse. It’s not something that pleases us at all.”

Based on Rendell’s letter, it sounds like the administration is prepared to ignore the mandate to have a new budget in place by July 1, Senate Republican spokesman Erik Arneson said.

“It is unfortunate and inexplicable that the governor is planning for yet another late budget,” Arneson said.

 The Associated Press reportsthat Rendell’s letter said the decision is a result of a recent court decision which orders him to either furlough state employees during a budget impassee or keep them working without pay.