The announced downsizing of government began in earnest Thursday, with the administration sending out "a couple dozen" notices of layoffs, said James O'Bryan, assistant to the governor for public affairs and policy initiatives.
The action is effective next week. "They will not be paid after (October) 12th," he said.
The exact number to be laid off in the next few weeks "has not been finalized," O'Bryan said, despite the fact that it has been widely publicized as 120.
"It's an ongoing process that should take several days," he said.
Those being let go are either part-time and/or temporary workers or exempt employees, he said.
Exempt employees serve at the pleasure of the governor, and are generally seen as political appointments.
O'Bryan said the names of those receiving notices came "primarily" from department commissioners or the heads of agencies, but he said he did not know what areas were tapped for the first round, except that some were Tourism employees.
The process is taking a little time, he said, partly because not all department heads have submitted names and partly because the government needed to update employee lists. Some workers' change in status (from active employment to retirement or from exempt to non-exempt) were not reflected on listings.
"A lot of things have to be rechecked," O'Bryan said. "We want to minimize mistakes."
The cuts are part of Gov. Charles Turnbull's reorganization plan aimed at cutting $54 million off the FY 2000 budget, O'Bryan reiterated. They are not related to the massive layoffs that the administration says are looming unless the government is able to borrow $130 million.
