Prince George's Health Dept. Hit By Layoffs As Flu Ramps Up

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (WUSA) -- Prince George's County announced layoffs to fill a $22.7 million cut by the State of Maryland's Board of Public Works on Aug. 26, 2009.

This is the first time during this economic downturn that layoffs of county employees have occurred. At least 125 will lose their jobs and another 25 vacant positions will be eliminated.

The worst of the layoffs will come at the County's Health Department which is taking another $2.7 million cut and where at least 40 workers will lose their jobs at about the same time the H1N1 flu vaccine is expected to be distributed nationwide.

"I never thought we'd come to the point where we really had to chose between services and people," said County Health Officer Dr. Donald Shell.

Shell says flu vaccine distribution will not be affected by the layoffs because nearly all vaccine will be administered by individual doctors and private providers. However, he said many educational outreach programs will be eliminated.

County Executive Jack Johnson said that he reviewed several alternatives to fill the gap caused by reductions of state aid to the county. He said that the state cuts have forced him to eliminate jobs and make additional cost-containment measures.

"I have tried very hard during the 18 months of this economic downturn to prevent job losses," Johnson said. "As a result of the state cuts four weeks ago, I have nowhere else to look and I am forced to announce the layoffs of county employees."

The layoffs will be effective November 1, 2009.

To also fill the $22.7 million gap caused by the state cuts, the county will eliminate 25 vacant positions, reduce the contribution to the county's hospital system, cut spending for computer system upgrades, reduce costs in Risk Management and county benefits and reduce the amount of funding for capital improvement projects paid from the county's General Fund. Additionally, cost containment measures implemented in January 2008, including a hiring freeze, will continue.

The county employees who are facing layoffs will be notified on Oct. 2 that their layoffs are effective Nov. 1. During the month of October the effected employees will be on paid administrative leave so they can begin their job search. The county Office of Human Resource Management will provide to each of the employees a Transitional Services Package, workshops on resume writing and interview skills, access to public sector employment databases and information on unemployment, leave payouts, pension contributions and continuation of health benefits beyond Nov. 1.

Johnson said that he will continue to review the county's financial status and hopefully any additional cost controls will not be necessary unless county revenues are eroded further as a result of the $22.7 million state cut or additional state cuts. He noted that as a result of the $22.7 million state cuts, the county is in a very precarious financial position and that the need for additional layoffs will be evaluated on a regular basis.