Southeast : Mayor Begins Voluntary Furlough Program to Cut Budget

Instead of laying off city employees, Long Beach Mayor Beverly O’Neill has come up with a better way to help trim the city budget: send them home to relax awhile.

Unveiling a new voluntary furlough program Thursday, O’Neill estimated that Long Beach can save $150,000 a year if at least 700 of its 5,000 employees stay home one day a year without pay or give up saved vacation time.

Benefits and seniority would not be affected unless, with special authorization, they agree to have their regular schedules reduced. Employee unions support the program.

City officials have not determined what effect the program might have on services, nor have they been able to gauge employees’ interest. But to avoid leaving offices understaffed, managers will have to approve time off in advance.

In January, a budget advisory team suggested sending city employees home one day a year, which would have saved about $500,000 yearly.

But after O’Neill included the idea in her June budget proposal, City Council members rejected a mandatory furlough, opting instead for voluntary leaves.