Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson may not be firing anyone in his effort to hold off a looming budget crisis, but with a hiring freeze in place, the county’s work force could shrink nearly 7 percent this year, with one department facing a potential 17 percent reduction as workers may opt for retirement.
With the county facing a $121 million budget shortfall in the next fiscal year, Johnson announced earlier this month he’d extend the hiring freeze that started in January through at least the first half of 2009, saving about $6 million, he said. Small increases in income taxes and home-sale transaction fees were also announced as part of his proposed $2.67 billion fiscal 2009 budget.
There are about 6,000 county employees, but in the 2008 calendar year 403 will be eligible for retirement, according to county human resources documents obtained by The Examiner. County officials won’t push anyone out, nor will they offer early retirement, Johnson’s spokesman John Erzen said.
The Health Department tops the list as having both the highest number of eligible retirees and the highest percentage, with 91 of its 526 employees eligible this year.
Department Director Dr. Donald Shell said he didn’t believe all 91 would take the option, so he’s not making plans to cut services. But if the department finds itself shorthanded, the first services to go would be outreach programs that provide free diabetes tests, blood pressure exams as well as information campaigns, Shell said.
“We’d have to prioritize the communities’ needs and place the most immediate needs like nursing home and restaurant inspections and epidemic preparations at the top,” which would be in line with the department’s core mission, he said.
The hiring freeze does not extend to public safety positions; Johnson has said he remains committed to hiring an additional 150 officers each year, a policy he’s had since 2003. Despite continuing to achieve that goal, the department’s real growth is lagging this year, with the retirement rate nearly keeping pace with new hires, according to police officials.
