In a special meeting Friday, the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners voted to reduce the hours of 67 county employees “partially or in whole” starting Monday, May 4.

County Administrator Teresa Doehring presented multiple letters of understanding to the commission Friday to confirm agreements between the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners “as the employer,” and multiple county union groups related to “furloughs of employees as a result of the substantial financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in St. Joseph County.” With the ratification of those letters the county has the right to “reduce personnel and lay off employees” but Doehring said the county will do its best to avoid as many layoffs as it can.

“In my 13 and a half years of doing this, this is the absolute worst decision I’ve been asked to make, it actually makes me sick to my stomach.”

County Commissioner Al Balog

Furloughs will begin May 4, and in most cases will be based on seniority, with an expected end date coming on or before May 31. If the furloughs need to be extended beyond May 31, the commission will need to discuss and approve that extension before May 25. During that time the county agrees to continue individuals’ health insurance, and those on furlough will continue to receive credit toward their pensions. Employees affected by this decision have already been notified, according to Doehring. She added that while the courthouse will be operating with a reduced staff, they will continue to provide the same services.

“In my 13 and a half years of doing this, this is the absolute worst decision I’ve been asked to make, it actually makes me sick to my stomach,” Commissioner Al Balog said. “But as a county I know we have no choice but to go down this path, it was nothing that we as a board or administration had done wrong, we’re not alone in this, this goes across the entire country. I’m very hopeful this will be temporary, and that those that are affected will get the necessary support financially to be able to continue on, and get them back to work as soon as we can.”

Balog continued by saying the county’s current budget is “for all practical purposes null and void” as projected income from “fees and so forth are just not there.” He said the decision to furlough county employees is “sadly an action that needs to be taken and we certainly don’t take it lightly.”

Commissioner Kathy Pangle said she’s also “very sorry” the commission had to make this decision but ultimately she believes it’s the right one.

“[…] Not only for the employees but for the taxpayers of this county,” Pangle said. “So hopefully this will end soon, and any help any of you may need please don’t be afraid to reach out to us or contact any of us if we can help you in any way at all.”

Commissioner Dennis Allen echoed the sentiments of Pangle and Balog, and added that “thankfully the majority of — I think all of our employees — will be entitled to or will be able to draw unemployment hopefully, and with the additional $600 and so forth, that will make them pretty much whole for this period of time.”

Commissioner Dan Czajkowski said while approving the furloughs was a tough decision it was also “a fair decision that not only protects our employees but the residents of St. Joseph County.”

Commissioner Ken Malone said all of the employees affected by these layoffs understand they are “very important to our community and that we hope it is short-lived as possible.”

He added, “But this also helps to ensure their long-term employment with us because we can keep ourselves financially sound, most likely.”

Alek Haak-Frost is the executive editor of Watershed Voice.