Jefferson Layoffs Loom

Jefferson County department heads tomorrow have been ordered to identify more than 1,000 employees who will be placed on administrative leave without pay starting Aug. 1 because the government doesn’t have money in its general fund to pay them, according to a report in the Birmingham News Tuesday.

County commissioners have been making drastic budget cuts because an occupational tax supporting one-third of the general fund was ruled unconstitutional by a local judge. Tax collections are being placed in escrow, unable to be spent by the county while the ruling is appealed to the Alabama Supreme Court.

Lawmakers haven’t agreed on a bill to reauthorize the tax. Gov. Bob Riley says he will call a special legislative session but only if there is support for a bill.

The budget crunch for most county employees tightened further last week when another judge ruled that commissioners could not cut the sheriff’s budget. The reductions necessary to balance the budget as required by state law are expected to affect 67% of the county’s employees.

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