Valdese municipal workers deserve significant raises

TO THE EDITOR:

This letter is directed toward the mayor of Valdese and members of the Valdese Town Council:

I wholeheartedly agree that Valdese municipal workers need and deserve a significant raise.

Valdese needs to retain quality professionals, and municipal workers should not have to live worrying whether they have enough funds to keep a roof over their heads and feed their families before their next paycheck arrives.

I am glad you are considering a significant pay raise to bring our municipal workers up to par with those in surrounding communities.

However, when you mention a pay raise on one hand and cutting hours on the other hand, it seems to me you are only offering the illusion of a better standard of living for our public servants.

If you raise pay but cut hours, do you really think that will help retain our municipal employees?

In my humble opinion, you are trying to appease everyone — those who don’t want to spend an extra dime to improve Valdese and those who know the value of retaining a skilled workforce.

You can’t have it both ways.

Please do the right thing. I for one am willing to pay more in taxes to improve my community, retain skilled workers, and improve the lives of our public servants.

PAUL GIRDANY

VALDESE