Posted: Sunday, July 27, 2008 12:00 am
JOAN BARRON
CHEYENNE - Although Wyoming is more than able financially to pay higher gasoline and utility bills, the state is exploring various ways to curb energy use.
The four-day workweek won't be one of them.
Nationally, this is a big trend. The State of Utah is the first state to mandate a four-day work week for most government employees. It goes into effect Aug. 4.
Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, a first-term Republican, says he's making the change to reduce the state's carbon footprint, increase energy efficiency, improve customer service and provide workers more flexibility. State offices will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. four days a week.
Huntsman was quoted as saying the public supports the move. The public mood could change when Salt Lake City residents need some service on Friday and the statehouse doors are locked.
The purpose of the truncated work week is to cut the costs of lighting, heating or cooling a building . It also saves the costs of commuting to work for state employees.
According to "Governing" magazine, several cities in Arizona, Florida and Nevada already have moved to a four-day week.
One town, in Arizona, Queen Creek, had a two-month pilot program to see how it works. Although it was adopted to cut costs to the city, officials found the employees benefited the most because of lower gasoline costs.
Arkansas officials are looking at a statewide flextime plan that would shorten the workweek to four days.
For more than a decade, Arkansas state agencies have been allowed to move to a modified schedule. The new plan would extend the flextime to all employees, with priority for those who drive the most miles to work.
Other cities tried and rejected the four-day work week. In Coca, Fla., citizens complained they had trouble getting city services on the off day.
"I don't think I'm inclined to go to a four-day work week," Gov. Dave Freudenthal said last week during a news conference. "It's not clear to me that that is really as significant a savings as it appears. I don't think the savings are what the public would expect."
Mike McVay, director of the Department of Administration and Information, said Wyoming has no major metropolitan area. In places like Salt Lake City and Denver, going to a 10-hour, four-day work week makes a difference in traffic congestion and commuter volume.
The state is looking at other energy savers. One is car-pooling.
State employees, like most state residents, value the independence of having their own vehicle or an assigned state vehicle. What they need is an incentive to car pool.
Freudenthal said McVay is exploring whether adjustments can be made to employee's per diem pay as a reward for sharing a car and a ride.
"It's hard to force them to car pool because they always have a reason why they can't," Freudenthal said.
Years ago, he recalled, the state subsidized an airline by buying blocks of tickets for state employees to use to fly to Casper and back. It didn't work because the employees said they needed a personal car when they got to Casper.
So the state will take other energy-saving steps. They include energy audits when buildings are renovated.
Also when old light bulbs wear out, they will be replaced with energy-efficient bulbs and motion- activated switchers.
And the motor pool is planning to increase the number of high mileage or hybrid vehicles.
"We're making an effort," McVay said.
Contact Joan Barron at joan.barron@trib.com or by phone at 307-632-1244.