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Job and Family Services taking furloughs to save money

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By Bridgette Outten, Staff Writer Updated 1:18 AM Wednesday, December 2, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — Job and Family Services of Clark County will be closed from Christmas Day to New Year’s Day in the agency’s latest attempts to chip away at a $3.15 million deficit.

Between 33 layoffs, decreases in JFS contracts and attempts to lower utility costs over the last few months, the deficit has been whittled down to about $500,000, Director Bob Suver said Tuesday, Dec. 1. The deficit must be reconciled by June 30, 2010.

The Clark County Library recently announced similar holiday schedules and offered furloughs to employees because of budget woes.

In addition the JFS furlough days, the American Federaion of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Ohio Council 8, Local 1939 has agreed to other concessions, said union president, Keith Lemon.

The union voted 70 to 65 to also include the option for employees to take either another six furlough days by June or donate 1.5 percent of their salaries to JFS through a voluntary donation program.

The donations could also net federal and state matches for JFS, Suver said.

The concessions the union agreed to were similar to another agreement overwhelmingly rejected in September.

Lemon said the difference was that the furlough and donation programs would take place over a six-month period rather than a year.

“Make no mistake, we know we’re in a crisis situation,” he said. “We know everyone needs to help. Our focus is just to make it as palatable as possible and not as longterm so we can make any readjustment to help them employees as well as the agency.”

The union will meet again with the agency on June 5 to discuss further options.

Suver said every employee, including management, will take the furlough days for the holidays and either the six furlough days for next year or make a voluntary donation.

“We’re optimistic we’re going to meet our goal,” Suver said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0374 or boutten@coxohio.com.

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