The state's economy has fallen on slow times and less income during the last few years with little relief in sight. The consequences permeate the legislature, news headlines, and most importantly, people's pocketbooks and wallets. Differing opinions about budgeting and spending have created difficult choices for the legislatures and lawmakers. The time has come to further embrace change from a state budget standpoint and move rapidly to save what is left of state worker dignity.
             Currently, the wage freeze has been a source of irritation and tension for state workers for the last three years. It is difficult to keep morale high and attitudes in check when wages are frozen. Three years ago, the state of Idaho found itself with a large deficit problem and was in need of a quick-fix solution. The obvious and quickest solution was to freeze pay raises to save money. One year into the freeze, the state found itself once again in the red.
             If these preventative measures were left unchecked, the state could have found itself mired in a series of compounding issues leading to yet a larger deficit. The state of Idaho would issue pay raises knowing that it would be contributing to the erosion of the state's financial situation, and force state leaders to perform layoffs, and budget cutbacks. It was the state officials? determination that it would freeze wages rather than lay off associates.
             Brainstorming uncovered many alternative actions such as increasing rewards and compensation time, but with 24,000 state employees, the wage increase was deemed the most practical course of action. Utilizing a pros and consT? chart for a visual aid, the chart clearly burgeons with many more cons than there are pros. A 0% wage increase is the first starting option evaluated. The effects of the negative column include low morale, resentment, anger, depression, a higher than expected turnover rate,
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