Perdue furloughs state employees (NC)

[BR_Parkway]

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2009/04/27/daily17.html

N.C. Gov. Bev Perdue has signed an executive order implementing a flexible furlough program for all state employees.

The program is designed to save $65 million this year, part of her latest effort to close a budget gap now estimated to exceed $3 billion for the current fiscal year.

Under the program, all teachers’ and state employees’ compensation will be reduced 0.5 percent for the remainder of the fiscal year. Each employee will receive 10 hours of flexible time off in exchange.

Perdue says the national economic crisis continues to hit North Carolina hard.Her office says she also has identified additional funds needed to balance the budget by “capturing more special funds, tapping the state’s Savings Reserve Account,and utilizing federal recovery dollars.”

The measures total more than $1 billion.

“I will do what I must in order to ensure that North Carolina can pay our bills and provide the essential services required by our citizens,” she says.

This on top of the recent increase in the State Health Insurance plan through BCBS of 8.9%

[msongs]

1. will duties/responsibilities ALSO be reduced? or will employes do same work for less time/pay? nt

[hedgehog]

2. Even here in New York, Governor Patterson was pushing the notion that

since private employers were laying off, the state should do so also. Somewhere along the way, he forgot the difference between a profit making enterprise and the joint effort of the community to provide needed services for all. If anything, state government services are more needed during a downturn!

[BR_Parkway]

3. another article was saying they would have a certain number of hours

that they could take on a flexible basis - so apparently they'll not be working for the hours they aren't getting paid.