To ease budget cuts, Franklin County Health Department employees will have to take 12 furlough days next year, Director Paula Alexander announced today.
The board unanimously voted in a special meeting this morning to work the furloughs into the 2012-2013 budget. The budget won't be passed until next month, but Alexander estimates the furloughs will save the department around $230,000.
Proposals for next year's budget showed the department "in the hole" by about $500,000, Alexander said. That's partly because the department will be receiving about 20 percent less from the state next year. The furloughs should help to cut that deficit by about half, Alexander said.
This is the first time the county health department has had to furlough employees, Alexander said. Details on when the furlough days can be taken are still being worked out, but Alexander said she’d like to spread it out with one furlough day per month.
“We’re looking at days like pay(day) Fridays, to take some of the sting off,” Alexander said.
The board also plans to lay off one part-time employee and change two full-time positions to part time, Alexander said.
The full 2012-2013 budget will be finalized and voted on at the July 16 board meeting.
An earlier version of this article mistakenly read the furloughs will save the department $250,000.
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