State agencies scramble to adapt 11/15/2008 10:45 PM Associated Press COLUMBIA -- Heads of agencies across South Carolina say they are doing all they can to avoid laying off employees as the state cuts its budget by $488 million. But some jobs have already been lost, and experts say more could be cut.
The State of Columbia reported Saturday that the Department of Health and Human Services is planning to offer employees a voluntary furlough. Spokesman Jeff Stensland said more furloughs could be coming if additional cuts are needed, and they could become mandatory if necessary.
The agency froze hiring last month when the General Assembly cut the budget, Stensland said. Cutting employment by attrition also is part of the agency's plans. Ten percent of the agency's jobs are open, up from 5 percent, as vacancies are not filled - measures that have saved $1.3 million, Stensland said.
Department of Health and Environmental Control Commissioner Earl Hunter has said his agency will offer employees early retirement, hoping to offset a nearly $26 million cut from its budget. Hunter also said it's likely some of DHEC's 95 health clinics will close. According to the DHEC website, Aiken County has a total of three clinics, located in Aiken, North Augusta and Wagener, although the agency has not announced which clinics it is liable to close.
At the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, employees have been told about plans to cut 50 permanent positions from the agency's 2,500-person work force by year's end. The agency must cut $21.5 million from its $191 million budget, letting go about 200 contract workers statewide, spokeswoman Lois Mole said.
Instituting a hiring freeze on Oct. 1, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services officials say they're not planning to cut jobs or offer furloughs, but its staff has fallen from 100 workers to 36 full-time and two part-time employees.
To reduce its budget by $26 million, the Department of Mental Health has started cutting services, closing a community health center and reducing beds at a facility in Columbia. At the Department of Corrections, spokesman Josh Gelinas says there haven't been staff or program cuts but, starting in December, employees can opt to take two unpaid days off a month through the end of June, and the agency also is charging inmates more for goods.
Several agencies have announced mandatory furloughs. Bill Byars, director of the state's Department of Juvenile Justice, has said agency employees must take 10 unpaid days off to prevent further layoffs, a move he says will save 35 jobs.
The state Education Department says its employees must take five days of unpaid leave, a furlough state schools Superintendent Jim Rex says does not apply to teachers or other school district workers, and should save more than a dozen jobs.
The cuts have also affected colleges and universities. Officials at the University of South Carolina say they expect to have a plan next month on how to handle $36.9 million in cuts, but there are no plans for mandatory, systemwide furloughs, spokeswoman Margaret Lamb said.
The Medical University of South Carolina is limiting new hires and not filling vacant positions, but further decisions on making up nearly $17 million in cuts have yet to be made. Clemson University has announced every school employee must take five days unpaid leave by June 30 to help pay for $25 million in state cuts.
Notice about comments:
AikenStandard.com is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. AikenStandard.com does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not AikenStandard.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.
Comment Title: budget
I think area and district administrators, directors, teaching mentors or coaches above the school level should also take a ten day furlough
1