Lake County employees asked to reduce work hours

Lake County governmental employees are being asked to voluntarily reduce work schedules as a budget-cutting measure, officials said Tuesday.

Eligible employees would temporarily reduce their workweek by one day for at least 12 weeks but no longer than 52 weeks, officials said. The move would not affect health insurance or other benefits and would require supervisor approval.

County officials expect the scheduling option will be popular now that nice weather has arrived.

"I'm sure we'll have some takers," said County Board Chairwoman Suzi Schmidt, a Lake Villa Republican.

The reduction could save the county an average $2,400 per worker, officials said.

The county has more than 2,800 employees, but not all will be eligible for reduced schedules, County Administrator Barry Burton said. Only workers in departments that can absorb the extra workload can participate, he said.

County leaders long have taken pride in the district's relative financial health. But with the recession continuing and tax revenue dropping, officials are looking for ways to cut the budget.

Budget planning for the next fiscal year, which begins Dec. 1, already is under way. Realizing that 2010 could be tougher than 2009 financially, departments are looking to cut spending any way they can, said county board member Brent Paxton, who leads the panel's finance committee.

"We've got to get ahead of the curve now to stem off some of these potential problems," said Paxton, a Zion Republican.

The county board approved the reduced-workweek plan at its May 12 meeting.

An accelerated retirement program also has been enacted, Paxton said. Additionally, officials are looking to eliminate some vacant, full-time staff positions by merging duties or hiring part-time workers, among other options.

A lot of the cost-cutting ideas, including the work-reduction plan, came from employees, Paxton said.

Other local government agencies have laid off employees in recent months to save cash. Hawthorn Woods, Mundelein and Antioch have been among the villages handing out pink slips.

Schmidt hopes the voluntary cuts will help prevent such drastic measures.

"The employees get to keep their jobs," she said. "They're willing to take a little less and work less."