Lake County lays off 18 employees

A lack of work because of a poor economy led to the layoff Thursday of 18 Lake County employees.

Layoffs were spread through the planning, building and development department, GIS/Mapping Division and the recorder of deeds office - all areas that deal with construction, permitting or inspection.

"These are all workload related, not economic related," Lake County Administrator Barry Burton said. "We simply can't keep (on the payroll) positions where we don't have sufficient work."

Three administrative positions at Winchester House also were cut, but none dealt with resident care, Burton said.

Layoffs will become effective Sept. 1. Employees will get two weeks severance pay. The move could reduce an estimated $5.1 million deficit by up to $1 million.

Burton said he would look to those employees first to fill vacant county positions elsewhere created by voluntary retirements, but doubted they would return to their old posts.

"We don't see those areas of work coming back any time soon," he said.

The announcement followed a briefing for the county board regarding the pending 2010 budget, which will be presented Sept. 4 and needs to be adopted in November.

About $5.1 million needs to be cut to close the gap between revenues and expenses but that figure can change. The 2009 budget is $504 million.

"There's no question our 2010 budget will be less than our 2009 budget," Burton said.

The amount to be cut assumes no pay increases for any of the approximately 3,000 county employees, a scenario that is in negotiation with various unions. It also assumes no change in the level of state funding, which is subject to change.

"The question is how much and what we'll do to get there," Burton added. "We're down but we're down less than other people."

Revenues from sales and business taxes are down 16 percent, for a shortfall of $8.8 million.

"We don't expect an immediate recovery. Revenues will lag," said Finance Director Gary Gordon.

About $3.5 million already has been shaved as a result of suggestions from employees.

"It's not enough but it's certainly a very good start," Burton said.

Savings will result from not filling various positions. Expenses also will be reduced as 110 of 446 eligible employees opted for a voluntary accelerated retirement. Those employees won't receive severance but will be allowed to continue with the county health plan for up to two years.

Other savings are coming from the suspension of unused sick pay incentives, reductions in fuel costs and a dramatic reduction in the number of county vehicles being taken home by employees, for example.

The cooperation and coordination with employees was a positive aspect of a tough situation that was noted repeatedly by Burton and others.

"If we were all fighting, it would be a lot more difficult to come up with solutions," Burton said.

Meetings with unions and departments will continue. The board also wants to review a list of all programs and services that are funded by the county but not required to be offered, such as the cleanup of polluted sites.

"When you're making these tough decisions, I would like that all in the pot," said board member Diana O'Kelly of Mundelein.

Savings on ongoing construction projects, such as the central permitting facility and health center, were not possible because contracts have been signed and the work is in progress, according to Burton.

"If we stopped all those projects today it doesn't help our operating budget," he said.

In a symbolic gesture, county board Chairman Suzi Schmidt and several of the 23 board members agreed to return their pending raises. That amounts to about $1,000 per board member.

"We need to set the tone," Schmidt said. "It's not a time for any elected official to take a raise."