Dear State Employee,
Later this morning, we will be taking more than $450 million in budget reductions to the Board of Public Works due to the continuing national recession. As you’ve probably heard by now, these reductions once again call on state employees to make sacrifices.
These are not easy decisions. Just as families, businesses, and individuals across Maryland are struggling to find ways to tighten their belts, our state government must do the same and must do more with less. Our citizens expect and deserve a government that works for them. In spite of the most severe recession in a generation, you all have been working to help reform our state government to make it more efficient and more effective.
I know many of you have questions about the furlough plan and budget reductions, which is why we have set up a website so you can see the details of today’s budget cuts. The website outlines all of the budget cuts, including the specifics of the furlough and salary reduction plan that we’ve implemented to avoid laying off 1,500 additional state workers.
We structured the furlough plan based on some of your suggestions. Many of you suggested that furloughs be implemented on days when most government functions are closed. This will allow the state to achieve additional savings from closed buildings and offices. We’ve included that as part of the plan. Many of you also suggested that we consider ways for employees who are exempt from furloughs to participate in the program. We’ve included that in the plan as well.
We are all in this together, and together, we’ll come through the other side of this national recession, even as we continue to reform our state government and make it more efficient.
Thank you.
Martin O’Malley
Governor
