A 6 percent pay cut or a 6 percent sales tax was the question Wednesday when Gov. Charles W. Turnbull met with labor leaders to hammer out ways to meet budget demands.
Turnbull told the labor leaders the 6 percent pay cut was in lieu of possible layoffs. But Luis "Tito" Morales said, "We made him an offer. We offered him a 6 percent sales tax. That way everyone pays, instead of trying to balance the budget on the backs of the workers. They didn't cause the problem."
By law the budget must be submitted to the Legislature by May 30.
Under Turnbull's plan the salary reductions would affect both classified and exempt employees and could take effect as soon as July and extend over a year and a half.
Turnbull told Radio One news, "If we don't get our financial house in order, it will be imposed on us by Washington."
Morales said he is trying to call a meeting of the entire union membership for Monday, Memorial Day.
The governor said he would consider the sales tax alternative.
