City Furloughs Start; Offices Closed Friday

Forget the normal hours of operation, many city government buildings were closed Friday - the first of five mandatory furlough days.

“Oh my gosh I came all the way down here for nothing,” said Sandra Burrell. 

Sandra wasn't alone.  Several people walked up to the Able Wolman building ready to pay their bills, only to leave confused and frustrated.  Cory Lodrick said, “Well, I took off work today so I’m not happy about that."  “I made a special effort to pay this parking ticket to come down here took off some time," added Earl Robins. 

On any given Friday Holliday Street would be lined with cars as folks wait to pay their bills.  Friday it was pretty empty. 

But if you do park your car on a furlough day make sure to feed the meter because the city will still be issuing tickets. Emergency services including police will remain open on furlough days, so will the courts.  Trash will also still be picked up.  But City Hall, recreation centers and most other government buildings will be shut down. 

The move may save the city $13.5 million and avoid up to 400 layoffs – 27 people have already lost their jobs.  “If the city wants to save money it's fine everyone needs to save some here and there but we need to know!”

The furloughs have been announced well ahead of time, but many were still caught by surprise; especially Ivy, a property owner who lives in New Jersey.  “'I’ll have to wait and come back another time," she said, “because it's such a long drive."  So while Friday may have been a bust for some, hopefully they'll save themselves the trip and write down the dates for next time. 

The city will also be furloughed Friday November 27th, Thursday December 24th, Friday January 15th and Friday May 28th. 

For more information click on the link provided.


 

Tomorrow is the first of five days where the city will be closed.
 
A sign on southbound I-83 has been reminding drivers all week that tomorrow will be the first furlough day for the city.  Services like paying bills or tickets in person and most other city offices will be closed.

Also closed will be the city’s health department and its various clinics.
 
Fire, police, trash collection, courts and city schools will remain open.  Also, several quasi organizations that are funded by the City Health Department will remain open; Baltimore Substance Abuse Systems, Baltimore City Healthy Start, Baltimore Mental Health Systems and Baltimore HealthCare Access will be open as will animal control and the animal shelter.

The city realizes this is an inconvenience to the citizens and city workers, but the mayor says it is necessary to meet the budget and avoid at least 400 layoffs.

"It's really a matter of cutting back and adjusting budgets while we ride through this and hopefully it will be ending sooner than later but it doesn't seem we'll be out of the water any time soon," said Mayor Sheila Dixon
 
The other four days when the city will shut down will surround selected holiday weekends through the end of the fiscal year in June 20-10.