Pennsylvania Office of Administration Furloughs Would Mean Agency Not Available to Help Other State Agencies
HARRISBURG, Pa., July 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Governor Edward G. Rendell is working to adopt a budget that requires no broad based tax increases, provides sufficient resources to ensure that Pennsylvania continues to improve its public schools, offers high quality child care, helps Pennsylvanians get good jobs and helps our companies grow, but the Governor’s Office of Administration, forced by the federal government to classify state employees in the event of budget impasses, said today it will be unable to support other commonwealth agencies because of furloughs.
Nearly all of the Office of Administration’s employees are classified as non-critical to the health, safety and public welfare of citizens. Although citizens may not notice a change in services due to furloughs, state agencies will. There will be limited staff to answer questions regarding employee benefits, compensation, leave and labor-related issues.
The Office of Administration will furlough 478 employees effective Monday, July 9, at 12:01 a.m. if a budget is not signed prior to then.
The Governor’s Office of Administration provides policy direction, management services and technology infrastructure to all agencies under the Governor’s jurisdiction.
Governor Edward G. Rendell proposed a $27.3 billion budget on Feb. 6 that offered solutions for Pennsylvania’s transportation funding crisis, relief for overburdened property taxpayers, innovative ideas for attracting the best and brightest scientists to find cures for the world’s deadliest diseases, ways to free residents from their dependence on foreign oil, expansion of successful education initiatives and bold ideas for bringing health care to every Pennsylvanian.
Recently, however, members of the Senate opted, instead, to demand that the budget cut millions of dollars from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade education programs, economic development and job training programs, as well as child care and mental health programs.
CONTACT: Mia DeVane
(717) 772-4237
Pennsylvania Office of Administration
CONTACT: Mia DeVane of the Pennsylvania Office of Administration,+1-717-772-4237
Web site: http://www.state.pa.us/