ORANGE : City Employees Get Paid Half-Day Off

Despite a looming $4.6-million deficit, city employees were granted a paid half-day holiday for Christmas Eve by the City Council this week.

A Christmas party for department heads was canceled earlier this month as a cost-cutting measure, and the council had also considered eliminating the paid half-day off on Dec. 24 and New Year’s Eve.

Traditionally, city offices are closed for half a day on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. As a bonus, the council in the past has granted employees an extra half-day off, which employees could take on either day to make a full holiday.

This year, however, the council considered canceling the bonus half-day, which would have saved the city up to $75,000. The council later decided to grant the half-day, but on condition that employees take it on Christmas Eve, allowing the city to shut all of its offices for the entire day.

Council members said they agreed to Christmas Eve off with half-pay because it would provide an important morale boost for employees. They did not vote on a New Year’s Eve holiday.

The council also voted to shut down the City Hall complex on Dec. 24 to save $2,500 on utility, janitorial and vehicle services. Also closed will be the Main Library, all library branches, the corporation and water yards and the redevelopment agency offices.