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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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The Speak up column in the 12/10/09 paper contains a FALSEHOOD- Supervisors at Job and Family Services are ARE taking furloughs and paycuts just like union members. Supervisors actually were ready to take a hit earlier on but the UNION rejected any concessions at that time. Due to that maneuver, the hit we are taking now is a larger bite out of our paychecks.

concerned citizen
7:37 AM, 12/11/2009

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Poor John Doe, still believing AFSCME lies or is helping spread and support them! Poor John Doe, apparently has a hearing problem, those members and former members who haven't heard how AFSCME saved their jobs or has gained any benefits for them. Poor John Doe likes to feel important because he contributes his dues and hasn't lost anything yet. Must be on the committee!
Good Luck John!

Lulu51
6:25 PM, 12/9/2009

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Dear John Doe,
I asked you for your solutions as you are the one doing all the whining. I don't see your suggestion as very creative. At least management tried to come up with a way to secure some federal matching funds to help with the budget problem and get more of a bang for the buck.

concerned
7:27 PM, 12/8/2009

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First Lulu, you have to get the votes to dethrone AFSCME. Don't count your chickens before they hatch. Second:Concerned, if you have such bright ideas, why haven't you presented them and saved the day!! Plain and simple: the people deciding who to cut and when to do it, sit in the big oversized offices, collect their large salaries, and do not live in fear of being cut. Let's start with the top heavy management, a few jobs can save loads of lower level positions. People, get with the program!!!

john doe
9:17 PM, 12/7/2009

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Dear John Doe,
Seems like you know so much about the budget, what suggestions would you make for dealing with the 25% state cuts and the levey based on 1985 property values? And the volume of foreclosures and abandoned properties that don't generate any property taxes? It is easy to "armchair quarterback" but have you actually tried to offer plausible suggestions?

concerned citizen
7:30 AM, 12/4/2009

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