D.C. Mayor Vince Gray is pressing forward with his plan to furlough city workers for four days this year in an effort to save the District $19 million. Gray will introduce emergency legislation on Tuesday that will finalize details of a furlough plan the council approved last month as it closed a $188 million budget gap. Falling revenues and overspending by city agencies have caused District officials to make deep cuts to city services. Gray’s furlough plan was designed to reduce some of those cuts.
The furloughs for city workers will take place on holidays when they would not be coming to work anyway. On Wednesday, Gray reminded the council during a breakfast meeting that the first of those days, President’s Day (Feb. 21), is fast-approaching. The legislation the council will likely pass on Tuesday will also furlough city workers on Emancipation Day, Memorial Day and Independence Day. Labor Day will be held in reserve if further cuts are needed, Gray said.
