The budget proposal passed by the Senate last week cuts 850 vacant positions from agencies already reeling from massive understaffing.

Among the cuts are 290 vacant positions related to mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance use, and 136 positions in the Department of Adult Corrections— two areas struggling to hire employees. Some prisons have vacancy rates higher than 50%.

NC Newsline reported that budget writers considered cutting jobs that have been vacant for months or years to save millions. But that approach ignores the main reason the positions have been vacant for so long — they don't pay enough to attract employees.

On this week's edition of the SEANC View Podcast, Executive Director Ardis Watkins explains why this approach is too simplistic and will ultimately hurt taxpayers.

It's important to note that this is not the final budget. The debate moves to the House, where leadership has signaled a willingness to do better by employees and retirees than the governor's and the Senate's proposals. Once the House passes a plan, the two sides appoint conferees to hash out the differences and pass a compromise on to Gov. Josh Stein for signature or veto.

Now is a great time to contact your Representative and tell them to stand up for you. You can click below to tell them why state employees and retirees deserve better than what the Senate's budget contains.