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Layoffs, furloughs coming for county employees Mary Paramore
“Specific cuts were directed by the body who has final say,” Craig said, referring to the Harford County Council, “These cuts require us to reduce services and to lay off employees.” The Council voted May 29 to cut the county budget by 5 percent, reducing the county real estate tax by 1.8 cents in approving a $576.6 million operating budget and $187.6 million capital budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. In a new release issued after the conference, Craig noted he had cut almost $38 million from the operating budget requests before submitting his proposed budget to the Council April 1. The additional 5 percent in cuts made by the Council did not apply to the Sheriff’s Office, the public school system, Harford Community College, and fire and EMS services. In addition to furlough and layoffs, Craig said county residents can expect a reduction in staff hours and material for the County’s public library system, closing of the Tollgate Spraying for Gypsy Moth infestation will be eliminated and there will be reductions in spending for agricultural extension services and soil conservation efforts. There will not be trail monitors along the Ma & Pa Trail during peak hours and on weekends. The Harford County HazMat Team will no longer respond to blood spills for mitigation purposes and response time to HazMat calls is expected to increase. Funding for the Court Appointed Special Advocates for the Harford County Circuit Court will be cut and juvenile counseling services eliminated. County spending also will be reduced for the economic development fund, workforce training grants and support of the Susquehanna Workforce Development Network “I cannot understand how people do not make the connection between the services we provide and the people who provide those services, ” Craig said during the media conference. Regarding the employees who will be paid off, Craig said, “I thank those 34 people. They are hard-working employees, our neighbors and our friends. They are true public servants. I care for them as people and as fellow workers. The services they provide will be missed.” When asked whether his office truly had no leeway regarding layoffs and furloughs, Craig said, “It would have been an exercise in futility. We could have said we will fund it, but there is no money to fund it.” Furlough days are scheduled for July 24 and in association with the Labor Day, Columbus Day, Christmas and Easter holidays.
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Thirty-four county employees will receive lay-off notices before week’s end, and all county employees will take five days unpaid leave during the 2009-2010 fiscal year, Harford County Executive David Craig announced in a media briefing Thursday afternoon at County offices.