Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors will vote Tuesday on whether to layoff 8 full-time county employees, due to an expected $3 million budget deficit. Supervisors issued a release Friday telling of administration recommendations to eliminate 8 positions in 7 departments. County Administrative Officer Terri Daly in the release wrote that “in addition to the 8 regular employees, the county will also cut budgeted hours for 7 extra help employees” who “do not work regular schedules, but are called in to work when needed.” Supervisor Board Chairman Ted Novelli said the “county regrets that the state budget crisis and the troubled economy have forced us into the position where we must layoff employees. Our employees are our strongest asset and we would not take this step if we had not exhausted every other course of action available to us.” Amador County initiated a “hard hiring frees” 18 months ago, which Daly said resulted in more that 30 positions coming open and remaining open. Last year, 3 incentive programs for early retirement, voluntary furloughs and voluntary layoffs, helped reduce costs, but “were not sufficient to prevent layoffs altogether.” Daly in the release said “we hope that we will not have to impose additional layoffs. However, we are still waiting for the state Legislature to act on the state budget. The state may defer payments to counties for mandated programs, which would put us in another credit crunch.” In a memo Friday to all employees, Daly said state budget “deferrals of payments to the counties are possible, if not probable.” She said the county is preparing for short-term deferrals of 1 to 2 months, as well as “an extended deferral (through September).” Employees who are laid off will be given 3 weeks’ pay, and will be placed on recall lists in case the budget situation improves. Daly in the memo said despite continuing efforts, Amador County “will probably end our year with about a $3 million deficit.” Supervisors meet starting 9 a.m. Tuesday in the County Administration Center, 810 Court Street in Jackson. Story by Jim Reece
Sunday, 08 February 2009 23:22
Amador County Supervisors: Vote On Layoffs
Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors will vote Tuesday on whether to layoff 8 full-time county employees, due to an expected $3 million budget deficit. Supervisors issued a release Friday telling of administration recommendations to eliminate 8 positions in 7 departments. County Administrative Officer Terri Daly in the release wrote that “in addition to the 8 regular employees, the county will also cut budgeted hours for 7 extra help employees” who “do not work regular schedules, but are called in to work when needed.” Supervisor Board Chairman Ted Novelli said the “county regrets that the state budget crisis and the troubled economy have forced us into the position where we must layoff employees. Our employees are our strongest asset and we would not take this step if we had not exhausted every other course of action available to us.” Amador County initiated a “hard hiring frees” 18 months ago, which Daly said resulted in more that 30 positions coming open and remaining open. Last year, 3 incentive programs for early retirement, voluntary furloughs and voluntary layoffs, helped reduce costs, but “were not sufficient to prevent layoffs altogether.” Daly in the release said “we hope that we will not have to impose additional layoffs. However, we are still waiting for the state Legislature to act on the state budget. The state may defer payments to counties for mandated programs, which would put us in another credit crunch.” In a memo Friday to all employees, Daly said state budget “deferrals of payments to the counties are possible, if not probable.” She said the county is preparing for short-term deferrals of 1 to 2 months, as well as “an extended deferral (through September).” Employees who are laid off will be given 3 weeks’ pay, and will be placed on recall lists in case the budget situation improves. Daly in the memo said despite continuing efforts, Amador County “will probably end our year with about a $3 million deficit.” Supervisors meet starting 9 a.m. Tuesday in the County Administration Center, 810 Court Street in Jackson. Story by Jim Reece
