Modesto Bee Article
By Garth Stapley, Modesto Bee Staff Writer
last updated: April 28, 2009
Nearly 4,000 Stanislaus County employees could lose as much as 5 percent of their pay in the coming year if county supervisors approve a furlough strategy today.
Seven labor unions, representing most of the workers, already signed tentative agreements to furloughs in an effort to save jobs while county leaders attempt to close a $34 million budget gap.
Each of the county's 27 departments would decide individually when to tell its employees to take an unpaid day off, for a maximum of 13 days throughout the fiscal year starting July 1. Some departments wouldn't order as many furlough days if they can otherwise balance their budgets.
Stanislaus County Supervisors Watch
The county theoretically would save about $1.2 million for each day that all 3,944 workers are idled, according to a staff report.
Facing unprecedented money problems, county officials have eliminated 131 positions and cut various services over the past year. They may have to lay off more, keep 443 positions unfilled, suspend vacation cash-outs, and reduce or eliminate travel, County Chief Executive Rick Robinson said.
He ordered cuts of 5 percent from safety departments and 12 percent from all other departments in the next year, hoping to save about $12 million. Unrepresented managers and attorneys could see changes in their salaries and benefits.
Agreeing to the furloughs were unions representing nurses, probation officers, attorneys, prosecutors' investigators and other workers. Resident doctors, emergency dispatchers and various units in the Sheriff's Department did not sign. Many of those positions are subject to minimum staffing rules, however, and might not present significant savings if furloughed.
Employees retiring in the next fiscal year would be exempt from furloughs, which won't affect health insurance benefits, accruing leave or
seniority, according to the staff report.
In a separate meeting today, the Stanislaus County Employees' Retirement Association could reduce benefits to retirees. Otherwise, the county might have to lay off workers to afford increasing its contribution to the retirement system by $22.7 million in the next fiscal year, officials say.
Two weeks ago, supervisors agreed to let all employees volunteer for unpaid time off.
Other recent cost-cutting measures include:
- Shutting down several recovery and mental health programs and eliminating 73 related jobs
- Suspending 2.5 percent bonuses and training for managers and attorneys
- Laying off three full-time and 72 part-time library workers
- Reducing child support services by 62 jobs
- Eliminating 12 planning and building permit jobs
- Reducing health services jobs by 10 full-time and four part-time positions
In a separate item, supervisors are expected to vote on a two-year contract with sheriff's lieutenants. They would get a 3 percent raise but give up bonuses and training pay, resulting in a wash to county costs.
Today's meeting of the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. in the basement chamber at Tenth Street Place, 1010 10th St., Modesto.
Bee staff writer Garth Stapley can be reached at
gstapley@modbee.com or 578-2390.
