Will County still eyeing employee furloughs

JOLIET -- As Will County officials try to cut next year's spending, they have decided to once again offer the possibility of voluntary furloughs to employees.

But there is a small catch: the elected official running each office must decide to offer the unpaid time off from work. So, for example, if Will County Treasurer Pat McGuire agrees, the employees in his office may request furlough.

Workers now have until Nov. 13 to request the unpaid time off from work, said Matt Ryan, chief of staff to Will County Executive Larry Walsh. Ryan announced the news Thursday during the county board's executive committee meeting. The furlough option had been open to some employees earlier this year, but they had to make a decision by Oct. 31.

"Several people have told us, 'We missed the deadline,'" Finance Director Paul Rafac said Thursday.

At least one elected official didn't offer furlough earlier this year to his employees: Will County Sheriff Paul Kaupas.

In September, Walsh gave the board a budget proposal that was balanced. But there was a shortfall of $19 million. To bridge that gap, county officials at first were going to use $5 million in cash reserves but later shaved that to $3 million. They were concerned that the terrible economy could continue longer than expected and that the cash reserves might be needed in 2011 or 2012.

If more employees take furlough, that might be a real boon for the cash-strapped county, said Board Chairman Jim Moustis, R-Frankfort.

"This could help with the budget. The more we can bring down the cost of the employees, the fewer people we will have to lay off -- or perhaps we won't have to make any layoffs at all," Moustis explained.

All of the county board members are expected to meet around 9:45 a.m. Nov. 12 to hash out the budget before they vote on it the following week. That meeting will be held at the county office building, 302 N. Chicago St., Joliet.

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