HCPOA NEWS
Board Starts To Discuss Furloughs And Layoffs (Montgomery Co.)
Aug 02, 2009 (11:08:44)
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Montgomery County officials have met this week to broach the delicate subject of furloughs and layoffs, saying such drastic measures might be needed this fiscal year to head off a looming $370 million budget shortfall next year.
County Executive Isiah Leggett met with County Council members Tuesday, telling them that he plans to consider furloughs and layoffs. Council member Duchy Trachtenberg said she agreed that they needed to begin that conversation now.
"We'll have to tighten our belts, and we cannot wait until next May to do so," Trachtenberg (D-At Large) said.
Revenue numbers have continued to disappoint as the county has hit an unemployment rate of 5.7 percent, which, Trachtenberg said, is the highest in 20 years.
Leggett said the county has exhausted other money-saving measures, such as eliminating positions, leaving others unfilled and freezing employee cost-of-living adjustments.
Leggett said he understood that furloughs would provide only temporary relief. The county would save about $2 million a day if furloughs were imposed on all county employees and $1.6 million if public safety employees were excluded. Leggett said those numbers mean furloughs would have to be only one part of an effort to cover the shortfall.
County officials expect to have more detailed information by September and will be better prepared to decide what steps will be needed to balance the budget.
Council member Michael Knapp said he wanted to reach out to employees and county residents early to prepare them for the possibilities.
"It's ugly," Knapp (D-Upcounty) said. "We are facing an economic crisis, and it's important to make sure we have a plan."
Gino Renne, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1994, which represents 8,000 county government employees in Montgomery, said that he thought the discussion was premature but that he was willing to begin discussing the budget concerns.
"Furloughs may be a reality, but let's not even start talking about it until we've exhausted other options," Renne said. "That's what I'm a little frustrated about."
Leggett said it was important to make an announcement about possible furloughs and layoffs early. "We are laying out all the options and trying to get everyone engaged," he said.
By Dagny Salas
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
