Dear Judicial Branch employee,
I wanted to follow up on news accounts you may have read regarding a memo that I sent yesterday to the Governor and legislative leaders to inform them of the impact of the reduction proposed yesterday by the Governor in his FY 2017 Third Midterm Budget Adjustment Proposal. Please find attached a copy of my memo. The proposal recommended that the Judicial Branch’s FY 17 budget be reduced by $79 million, as compared with the budget that is already on the books for next year. Under this proposal, $57 million of this cut is required to come from employees. This is a devastating cut that, if enacted, will require drastic actions on our part.
If this proposal is adopted, at least 600 layoffs within the Branch, in addition to the 126 already issued, would be required. Given our desire to provide the longest possible notice to employees who may be laid off, we are finalizing an initial list of 110 Judicial Branch employees who will receive notices on Thursday, May 5, 2016, effective at the close of business on June 23, 2016. We are not taking this action lightly or with disregard for the impact on each and every person who will receive a notice. We recognize that these actions will significantly impact the lives and families of the 110 employees who will receive notices and also recognize the hardship that has already been created to 126 employees who received layoff notices on April 15, effective at the close of business on June 23, 2016. As I have already told you, this is, by far, the most difficult action that I have had to take as Chief Court Administrator. We recognize that this is a stressful time for everybody and wanted to remind you that our employee assistance program is available at 1-800-252-4555. I also would like to reiterate that no employee will be escorted from the workplace.
Let me be clear, there is no revised budget in place for FY 17 at this time. The Executive Branch and the Legislature continue to exchange proposals, and we cannot be certain which of any will ultimately be adopted. Nevertheless, we must prepare for a worst case scenario, and recognize that even under the best circumstances additional layoffs and courthouses closings appear unavoidable. We had hoped to limit these actions based upon lesser cuts that have been proposed to the Branch, but we must begin to initiate plans for widespread courthouse closings and consolidations.
Obviously this is a situation in great flux. At this point, however, I have no option as Chief Court Administrator but to take the steps necessary to have the Branch operate within the constraints of whatever budget is adopted. I will keep you informed of any further developments.
Sincerely,
Judge Patrick Carroll