San Benito County’s workforce had been offered a voluntary
time-off program, but it wasn’t enough to offset falling revenue
figures.
San Benito County’s workforce had been offered a voluntary time-off program, but it wasn’t enough to offset falling revenue figures.
Between now and the end of June, nearly all of the 450 or so employees in the county workforce are required to take 15 days of furlough time in an effort to cut costs.
The board of supervisors at last week’s meeting approved the final contract amendment with the county’s employee groups to get the mandatory program officially launched. The move should save about $700,000 in this fiscal year, said Richard Inman, the assistant county administrative officer.
County officials had started the voluntary time-off program in June, but Inman said there was “not much” interest. Administrators also had to confer with unions on a furlough requirement as they unrolled the voluntary initiative, he said. Plus, revenue figures continued to fall off as time went on.
“It kept getting worse so it was pretty evident we had to do something mandatory,” Inman said.
He noted how employees who already had taken part in the voluntary program will be credited for those days under the mandatory one.
Workers will have the choice on nearly all of their days off, but Inman pointed out that officials are considering whether to close county offices on several holidays – or days near holidays – when those offices traditionally have been open. That time off would count toward the 15 required furlough days in the mandatory program.
Look for more on this story in the Pinnacle on Friday.
