July 26 PA Environment Digest Now Available

July 26 PA Environment Digest now available. Click here to print this Digest.

Gov. Rendell Anticipates 700 State Worker Layoffs Resulting From Budget Cuts

Gov. Rendell this week said about 700 state workers will have to be furloughed as a result of the cuts to the FY 2010-11 budget, down from 1,000 he anticipated earlier.
Where the state worker cuts will happen has not yet been decided.
During FY 2009-10, 147 employees and vacancies were eliminated from the departments of Environmental Protection and Conservation and Natural Resources and eliminate another 186 full time vacant positions for a total reduction of 333 positions. (11/23/10 Pa Environment Digest)
In addition 1,131 seasonal workers at DCNR had their positions eliminated or hours reduced in State Park and Forestry operations-- 240 seasonal positions were eliminated over the last year and 891 seasonal workers had their hours reduced.
Since 2002-03, DEP has lost nearly 20 percent of its staff and positions due to budget cuts, but the number of laws it has to enforce and its program responsibilities have not been reduced. Click here to read more...