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County furloughs a hassle

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By CHIP OSOWSKI

cosowski@wfla.com

Published: October 31, 2009

TAMPA - Ejay Metayer drove from the University of South Florida area Friday morning to take a law enforcement test at the Fred B. Karl County Center downtown.

He didn't realize it was furlough Friday, when non-essential Hillsborough County offices were closed to help make up a $120 million budget gap.

The closings, he said, are inconvenient and frustrating.

"I mean, it's not a short distance, and it's gas-costly as well," he said. "I mean, it is what it is."

Nicholas Jammal also had business at the county center, only to be turned away by security. Jammal questioned whether furloughs are the best way to save taxpayer dollars.

"That's debatable because you have productivity that gets lost as the result of one day of closing." Jammal said. "And so, whatever they think they can save money is really a loss of productivity in other areas."

Many county offices, including libraries, the animal shelter and senior service centers, were closed.

It was the first of five furlough days approved by commissioners to cut costs.

"It's significant. It's noticeable. It saved a lot of jobs we would have otherwise had to consider cutting," Assistant County Administrator Eric Johnson said. "And considering how many cuts we were already making, this seemed like a good way to stop from having to go further."

Commissioners restored about $20 million in funding over the summer, but they say deep cuts in services could not be avoided.

Other furlough days are Jan. 15, April 2 and June 18. All are Fridays. A fifth is scheduled for September, but the date hasn't been selected.

News Channel 8 reporter Chip Osowski can be reached at (813) 221-5784

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