Wilson Discontinues 5% Pay Cut for Office Staff, Top Officials

Gov. Pete Wilson gave his office staff and top state officials a present Tuesday, eliminating a 5% pay cut that was imposed early in his administration to combat budget red ink.

The Republican governor directed the Department of Personnel Administration to discontinue the Personal Leave Program for employees in his office and state managers exempt from Civil Service controls.

Department Director David Tirapelle said the move will affect 496 state employees, the last affected by the pay cut.

He said he did not know what the aggregate pay increase would be, but said the cost would be made up by such steps as keeping vacant positions open.

“For most departments it [affects] only two or three employees,” Tirapelle said. “The largest number is in the governor’s office.”

Early in Wilson’s first term, the administration negotiated a collective bargaining agreement in which state employees’ pay was cut 5%, and they were given an additional day off each month.

The day could be taken off from work, or cashed out when the program ended or the worker left state employment.

For most state employees, the program ended in 1994.

“California’s fiscal situation is now on secure financial footing,” Wilson said in announcing the move. “I have asked the department of personnel administration to discontinue the Personal Leave Program for the last group of appointees still on the program.”

Wilson spokesman Jesus Arredondo said the governor’s announcement will not affect Wilson’s salary, which will remain at $114,296 a year.