TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Clock ticking for departing Pasco workers

ADVERTISEMENT

By KEVIN WIATROWSKI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 2, 2009

Pasco County commissioners' 2009-10 budget kicked in Thursday, and that means the clock is ticking for dozens of county employees who will get pink slips or buyouts in the next two weeks.

This will be the first time county officials have let go large numbers of workers to save money. Commissioners spent all summer closing a $36-million budget gap, partly by reducing their staff.

One of those on the buyout list is Anita Johnson, a secretary in the county commissioners' New Port Richey office.

For four years, Johnson has been the first person people meet when they come to speak to a commissioner at the West Pasco Government Center. Before she worked for the commissioners, she spent five years with the county attorney's office.

Johnson said she had planned to work three more years and retire at 65, but the offer of county-paid health insurance convinced her to accept early retirement.

"I felt I was working mainly for the health insurance, and this was a good opportunity, so I applied (for the buyout)," Johnson said this week.

County Administrator John Gallagher must approve all buyouts, which can involve some negotiating over final benefits packages. The deals involve only insurance coverage, not pay.

So far, 30 people have applied for the buyouts, and 18 have been approved. Five people were refused buyouts, and three people withdrew their applications after failing to reach agreement with Gallagher, according to the county's personnel department. Another four cases are pending.

Personnel Director Barbara DeSimone said the buyout offer remains open until Oct. 9 to give eligible employees a chance to make up their minds. Their final day will be Oct. 16.

The 98 employees on the lay-off list commissioners approved last month will get their final paychecks Oct. 9. That list was heavy with people who maintain county-owned buildings and run parks and recreation programs.

Some of those workers could start new jobs with the county on Oct. 12, filling posts commissioners opened during the summer's budget negotiations. Commissioners approved hiring for formerly frozen spots in libraries, firefighting and elsewhere.

"We have a lot of employees currently interviewing for positions," DeSimone said.

Putting those workers back to work on Oct. 12 will avoid a "break in service" that could set them back to square one on building up sick leave and vacation, DeSimone said.

There won't be enough openings to rehire all the laid off workers, however. For some, their new jobs could be lower on the totem pole, with a resulting loss in pay, she said.

The county plans to hire from within to replace Johnson when she leaves in two weeks.

Johnson said she considered that possibility when she decided to retire early.

"I thought this might open a position up for someone being laid off," she said.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story had the wrong deadline for Pasco County employees to take a buyout. The day is Oct. 9.

Reporter Kevin Wiatrowski can be reached at (813) 731-8168.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT