Governor Rell: Voluntary Furloughs

Saved State Over $1 Million Since January

            Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the state has saved more than $1 million in payroll costs because of her directive in mid-January that asked non-union managers to take one unpaid day of leave.

            The Governor was among the 2,400 executive and non-union managers who voluntarily took an unpaid furlough day as part of her cost-cutting move announced on January 13.  Governor Rell asked that the voluntary leave be taken before March 1 and noted that more savings are expected because the $1.15 million in estimated payroll savings do not reflect the two weeks of the pay period leading up to March 1.

 “I appreciate the sacrifice made by these dedicated state employees,” Governor Rell said. “They clearly understand that we must all do our part to help the state weather this economic crisis. The national recession has certainly not taken a day off.”

Since the Governor’s directive, the budget deficit for the current fiscal years has ballooned from an estimated $356 million to approximately $1 billion currently. Governor Rell has taken a number of cost-cutting steps over the last several months as the economy worsened including:

·        Four rounds of rescissions;

·        A ban on hiring and out-of-state travel;

·        Three deficit mitigation plans;

·        A freeze on state agency purchasing for the remainder of the fiscal year.

“It is imperative that we continue to cut spending and find savings wherever we can,” Governor Rell said.