More Job Cuts, Furloughs

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver last week announced the state would cut an additional 180 positions and require 3,200 nonunion employees to take seven unpaid days off work to help balance the budget.

Culver is also seeking union concessions to help fend off the need for more than 500 layoffs for prison workers, probation officers, state troopers, fire marshals, and other law enforcement officers in further cost-cutting measures.

The proposed cuts would shave $520 million off the budget to address dwindling revenues. Culver has said he wants to cut a total of $565 million in spending, or 10% of the budget.

“The meltdown of our national economy has created many challenges for our state — both immediate and long term,” the governor said in a statement. “As is true with all great challenges, there is a painful reality to our situation — given this budget reality, there are no easy gimmicks or quick fixes.”

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