Deal Defends Plan To Cut Health Benefits For 11,000 School Workers
Gov. Nathan Deal’s latest budget plan cuts health benefits to more than 11,000 school workers – mostly bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and other employees who work less than 30 hours per week.
Deal this week defended the proposal, saying it’s a matter of fairness to other state employees who work part-time but don’t qualify for benefits.
“I think more and more people are asking the question, ‘why is it that people who are working less than 30 hours a week were being able to participate when some of our own state employees could not,’” said Deal.
The plan would save the state more than $100 million per year. Deal said it wasn’t always the state’s responsibility to offer the benefits.
“[The local school districts] have had that burden before. We stepped in and gave them some relief from that for a year at least,” said Deal.
Labor groups say the state has provided the benefits since at least 1985. They say it’s a major selling point to make up for low pay. They predict major worker shortages if the governor’s recommendation is adopted.
Richard Woods, the new state schools superintendent, says he’d like to find a way to keep the funding in place.
“We want to make sure we have adequate coverage for every individual. But I think from there, looking at what they make in total, I mean, they don’t have a lot of funding. They’re one of the lowest paid individuals on our contracts so I think trying to provide that one benefit would be something I’d like to address and try to provide for them,” said Woods.
Lawmakers will debate Deal’s budget and likely finalize a version by March or April.
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