PA Government Layoffs Expected
By: Kevin Flanigan
Updated: July 19, 2010
HARRISBURG - A new round of state lay-offs appears to be in the works for Pennsylvania.
The job cuts would follow a growing problem with the current state budget.
Last week Governor Ed Rendell sent union leaders in Harrisburg the required 30 day notice that and unspecified number of state lay-offs could come. Now we are learning that any state lay-offs could be wide spread. Because the state budget approved earlier this month called for spending about a billion dollars less than the Rendell administration had requested, some analysts have been predicting a reduction in the state's work force of about one thousand workers. Those lay-offs are expected to follow cuts in state support for a wide range of programs and services.
Now the number of state budget related lay-offs to come in the near future is expected to grow. That's because $850 million in state support from Washington that was included in the budget now appears less likely to materialize. Some legislators say it was a mistake to include that funding in the first place.
While it will be up to the Governor to determine what specific cuts will be needed to make up for the budget shortfall, all state supported agencies from Counties to local agencies and even school districts appears to be in line to share in the coming lay-offs expected.
Schools districts across the state may be among those hardest hit. That's because some $250 million in promised state support that was promised in the budget could evaporate if the $850 million in projected federal medicare funding is not approved in Washington.
The job cuts would follow a growing problem with the current state budget.
Last week Governor Ed Rendell sent union leaders in Harrisburg the required 30 day notice that and unspecified number of state lay-offs could come. Now we are learning that any state lay-offs could be wide spread. Because the state budget approved earlier this month called for spending about a billion dollars less than the Rendell administration had requested, some analysts have been predicting a reduction in the state's work force of about one thousand workers. Those lay-offs are expected to follow cuts in state support for a wide range of programs and services.
Now the number of state budget related lay-offs to come in the near future is expected to grow. That's because $850 million in state support from Washington that was included in the budget now appears less likely to materialize. Some legislators say it was a mistake to include that funding in the first place.
While it will be up to the Governor to determine what specific cuts will be needed to make up for the budget shortfall, all state supported agencies from Counties to local agencies and even school districts appears to be in line to share in the coming lay-offs expected.
Schools districts across the state may be among those hardest hit. That's because some $250 million in promised state support that was promised in the budget could evaporate if the $850 million in projected federal medicare funding is not approved in Washington.
