Another 19 layoffs were announced Tuesday — in the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Office of Governmental Accountability — bringing the total number of executive branch layoffs up to 712.
A memo released Tuesday by the Office of Policy and Management says they won’t be the last of the layoffs.
“It is important to note that notices regarding workforce reductions will occur over time. This is a difficult process, one that we aim to ensure is done respectfully and legally,” the memo states. “As such, there will be additional reduction notices in the future. We will continue to notify the public as future notices go out.”
The largest number of employees laid off comes from the Department of Correction, the second largest due to bumping rights was the Department of Children and Families, followed by the Department of Developmental Services. Even though the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services was served with 136 layoff notices, only 87 employees there have been separated from state service due to bumping rights.
The news of the additional layoffs came on the same day the Judicial Branch announced its plans to implement a strict hiring freeze.
In a memo, the branch said 239 employees will be laid off on June 23, while another 61 temporary employees assigned to courthouses have been informed their services are no longer needed as of June 22.
“It is expected that these 300 notices, combined with a strict hiring freeze and attrition, will result well in excess of 500 fewer employees as the next fiscal year progresses,” the memo states.
The Judicial Branch budget was cut by $77 million. The personnel reductions are expected to save $40 million.
However, as far as courthouse closings are concerned, no decisions have been made yet because it’s unclear how the layoffs will impact operations.
On Monday, the branch also informed community-based service providers that their funding would be reduced by an additional $14.5 million through selected program reductions and across the board cuts. These are programs that serve juvenile and adult offenders. The programs that will be saved are the ones that have been “proven to be the most effective at reducing recidivism.”
