BUENA VISTA -- Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's budget balancing plan, which he's expected to roll out tomorrow, is expected to include an unpaid day off for most Virginia government employees.
Kaine told the Richmond Times-Dispatch this morning that his package to close a $1.5 billion hole in Virginia's budget will require public workers to take what are widely described as furloughs.
Kaine said the unpaid days off would not apply to public safety workers, such as state troopers and corrections officers. Kaine would not say how much money will be saved by the furloughs.
Since the economic downturn started accelerating in early 2007, Kaine and the General Assembly have pruned state spending by $6 billion.
Continuing erosion in the economy means the budget is still bleeding cash -- this time by an estimated $1.5 billion.
Furloughs have been widely used in industry to control cost during the recession, and have been adopted by governments across the country. Previous governors have considered furloughs in earlier recessions, but this apparently is the first time that Virginia is adopting them.
-- Jeff E. Schapiro
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement