Esther Fleming, the governor’s special assistant for administration and the Office of Management and Budget, said they have to resort to layoffs because the $148 million Fiscal Year 2009 budget is not enough.
Fleming said her office has already identified how much money each executive department and agency will get this FY 2009 which ends on Sept. 30.
“We have been able to meet with different departments and the impact of the budget to each one of them so that they would be able to plan out how their reduction in force would be carried out,” said Fleming in a news conference at the governor’s office yesterday afternoon.
“I’ve given them at least until Monday for the listing of the furloughs — the employees who will be affected. Basically we’re targeting the ungraded positions first before we can touch any other areas,” she added.
She said there are contractual employees whose employment contracts are up for renewal by April 11.
By law, they should be notified at least 30 days in advance that their services will not be needed anymore.
Fleming said there are also a group of contractual employees whose contracts are due to end by Sept. 30.
The Department of Cultural Affairs and Community, the Department of Lands and Natural Resources and some agencies within the executive branch like the Emergency Management Office, the mayor’s office, among other offices, have the bulk of contractual employees.
“They are preparing to determine non-essential services that they can be able to take down,” said Fleming.
She said it’s unfortunate that people will be let go but the cash-strapped government’s situation calls for it.
“The private sector is not ready to cushion the impact of layoffs,” Gov. Benigno R. Ftial said. “Business is not good.”
