As the president of my union (AFSCME Local 3661) representing hundreds of state employees who work in public safety and community corrections, I strongly disagree with this article “Taxpayer advocate questions Maryland governor adding state jobs with a $3 billion deficit” (Feb. 5).
I have been a parole and probation agent for five years. Every day, my colleagues and I go into our communities wearing badges with a mission to support the rehabilitation of those we supervise and ensure public safety. With sufficient resources, we can identify issues early with those we supervise before they have a chance to re-offend. But that requires manageable caseloads — something my colleagues and I have never experienced after a decade of disinvestment in state services.
Our agencies are critically understaffed and the risks to public servants are tragic and real. Last May, my colleague, Davis Martinez, was the first parole and probation agent in Maryland to be murdered in the line of duty. He was alone — without the equipment, backup, or resources necessary to protect himself.
This “taxpayer advocate” fails to understand how dangerously understaffed state agencies are. You feel the impact of understaffing when you struggle to reach state agencies for help with benefits, customer service questions, licenses and permits. We feel the impact when we read about increasing child abuse and neglect deaths due to understaffing in the state’s child welfare agency. Maryland simply does not have the highway workers, correctional officers, nurses, social workers, parole agents and more that we need to keep our communities safe and healthy.
Understaffing only costs our state more in the long run. Our communities pay a price every time we lose a life and when overtime costs, workers’ compensation claims and waiting times are sky high.
The truth is, we can pay for it all if we have the courage to fix our broken tax system. I applaud the Governor’s efforts to raise funds for a modern and efficient state government, especially by ensuring those who can afford to contribute more — or who are cheating their way out of paying more — do so.
Until then, my coworkers and I will continue to uphold the mission of our agency despite these challenges. That’s what public servants do. And we are proud to serve.
— Rayneika Robinson, Baltimore
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