Idaho Health and Welfare agency to close offices early every other Friday through June
By APWednesday, January 13, 2010
Idaho agency to shut offices early to save money
BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare will close offices across Idaho for half a day every other Friday, as most of its 3,173 employees take more time off without pay to meet Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter’s latest round of budget cuts.
The noon closings, to save the agency $1.6 million in state funding this fiscal year, are through at least June 11.
Health and Welfare Director Richard Armstrong has already drained his agency’s operating funds to cover previous cuts and says he has no choice but to take this latest slice out of personnel. He says the alternative is cutting 130 jobs.
He told employees in a note Monday, “The cold reality is we cannot continue to provide the same level of service with these personnel reductions.”
The closures won’t effect employees of Idaho’s state hospitals in Blackfoot, Nampa and Orofino.
Otter ordered virtually all Idaho agencies to trim another $40 million from 2010 spending, to balance the budget amid falling revenue.
