State's part-timers face an abrupt exit next week under governor's plan

For state government retirees, a part-time state job means some extra spending money, enough to take an extra trip or dine out more often.

For their younger counterparts, it could be a chance to get enough experience to land a full-time job and launch a career.

Both those groups face an abrupt end to their state service next week, when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signs an executive order to deal with the state budget impasse – at least for now.

The executive order would immediately "terminate" those positions.

But the administration made clear Thursday that it does not envision cutting loose the workers for good. Once a budget is signed, departments could bring back temporary workers, said Department of Finance spokesman H.D. Palmer.

Those facing the ax number just short of 22,000. That includes about 16,000 intermittent workers, such as park aides and proctors who oversee exams for professional licensees.

An additional 5,662 are "retired annuitants" – retired state workers who return part time. The state considers hiring retirees a good bargain because it doesn't have to pay them for vacations, holidays, sick leave, health care or retirement.

Under the governor's draft order, departments aren't required to dismiss temporary workers if they're involved in public health or safety, 24-hour care at state facilities or emergency response.

Elizabeth Maaskent, 65, is one of the workers who may be sent home next week. The West Sacramento resident retired three years ago after more than 20 years with the state. After a three-month break, she returned to the Department of Pesticide Regulation.

For about 10 hours a week, she goes to food distribution warehouses to collect samples to be analyzed at the lab for the presence of pesticides.

It was part of her job description before retirement.

"I always felt it was one of the more important things I did," she said.

The extra $500 to $1,000 a month helps pay for travel – she went to Switzerland two years ago with her youngest daughter – but she's not depending on the money to put food on the table.

"I'm not going to be devastated if it gets cut," she said.

Neither will Ron Smith, 75, who's been working part time as a tax technician for the Board of Equalization since shortly after he retired in 1996.

He helps panicked taxpayers fill out their state forms, telling them it won't be so overwhelming if they just take it line by line.

The money helps the Gold River resident pay for trips to Branson, Mo., and Hawaii. But more than that, "it keeps you in contact with people," Smith said.

Mallory Chase is at the other end of her career. She's a seasonal technician at the Department of Food and Agriculture, working on the program to eradicate a noxious invasive weed called the Japanese doddy.

The job lasts from May to February. Chase, 21, of Rancho Cordova, tries to find other temporary work on the off months, but the state job is her mainstay. She hopes to take the civil service exam to get a permanent position.

She hadn't heard about Schwarzenegger's executive order until she was contacted by a reporter Thursday. She wasn't pleased, especially considering the ragged state of the economy.

"Half my friends have either lost their jobs or have no job," she said. "If I lost this job, I don't know what I'd do."

Many departments rely heavily on temporary workers.

Retired workers who return part time, for instance, do everything from managing offices to typing. The most common titles include middle managers, transportation engineers, psychiatric technicians, expert examiners and motor vehicle field representatives, according to an analysis of the state payroll.

The number of part-time retired workers has grown from 4,201 in 2000 to 6,936 earlier this year. These workers can put in up to 960 hours a year – or half a year's work – without jeopardizing their retirement status.

Among the intermittent and seasonal workers are exam proctors, seasonal clerks, park aides, lifeguards, key data operators and security guards.

The part-time retired workers would not qualify for unemployment benefits. Other temporary workers such as student aides may likewise be shut out. But a majority of other temporary workers would qualify, state officials said.

About the writer:

• Call John Hill, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5543.