Red-Letter Day
Here’s the furlough letter…
Dear Co-Worker:
I apologize that I am only just now communicating with you, but I have held off at the request of state legislators who are working to reach a budget compromise before the fiscal year ends tonight. When midday arrived with still no formal agreement, I informed the General Assembly that in fairness to state employees I could not wait any longer. So, it is with great regret, I write to inform you of the unfortunate possibility that as of midnight, our state government will be forced to shut down and suspend many of its operations.
I have done everything in my power to avoid this outcome. When the legislature failed to pass a budget in April, I called them back into session a week earlier than expected, to give them extra time to reach an agreement. I revised my original January budget proposal to incorporate numerous compromises, including the use of a significant portion of our state reserve funds. Some observers felt that I had gone too far: the Indy Star, on June 7th, even described our concessions as potentially “foolhardy.” The Senate subsequently produced a budget that made even greater compromises, which again, in hopes of a reasonable solution, I agreed to support. Additional concessions were made late yesterday in a final attempt at compromise and early reports suggest that perhaps these last changes have resulted in a deal although no vote has been taken and no budget has yet passed. At my request the Senate also passed a stop-gap measure to keep government open even if a budget still did not pass in time.
Please note I have a greater sense of optimism today that the members of the Indiana General Assembly have agreed to a budget and will vote to pass it before the deadline of midnight tonight than I did yesterday. However, in the event that a budget is not passed by midnight tonight, it is my responsibility to notify you of the potential interruption of all state government activities except those of a public safety, life and death nature. Attached is a memo, detailing the particulars of the shutdown process as a precautionary measure in the event the General Assembly fails to pass a budget.
Though the potential for closure remains a possibility, I still hope for another conclusion. Over the next 12 hours I will join you in watching the General Assembly as they consider and hopefully pass a responsible, 2-year state budget which I can sign. You are delivering the finest state government service Indiana has ever seen and I thank you sincerely for it.
Sincerely,
Now here’s the procedures state workers are supposed to follow…
As Governor Daniels stated in his e-mail, if the General Assembly fails to enact a budget by midnight, most of state government will have to be shut down. Without a budget, the state does not have authorization to spend funds for wages and services. Employees, other than those engaged in emergency operations, will be on furlough. A furlough is an unpaid leave of absence.
Please monitor the news reports tonight and tomorrow morning. Also, an update will be posted on www.in.gov. If a budget has not passed, you should not report to work unless you have received specific instructions to report from your appointing authority.
During a furlough, employees are not paid. There is no option to use vacation, personal or sick leave during the furlough. Employees are not permitted to volunteer their time. The ID/access cards of all nonessential employees will be temporarily deactivated during the furlough.
If a budget has not passed by the time you leave work today, please make the following changes to your voicemail and e-mail to notify the public in the event of a shutdown:
Voicemail – “Thank you for calling (agency). You have reached (Person’s office). Indiana state government offices are currently closed and will remain closed for an indefinite period of time due to the failure of The Indiana General Assembly to pass a budget by June 30. I will be out of the office until a budget is passed.”
E-mail – Turn on the out of office assistant and insert this text: “Indiana state government is closed indefinitely because the Indiana General Assembly failed to pass a budget by June 30. I am out of the office and will not be responding to e-mail while this shutdown is in effect. I will return when a budget is passed.”
If a budget passes and there is no shutdown, please change back to current message immediately Wednesday morning.
Once an appropriations bill passes the General Assembly, we will resume regular operations, and you will be expected to report for your next scheduled shift. It is important that you monitor the news reports and keep informed throughout this period. An update will also be posted on www.in.gov when a budget is approved.
There should be no lapse in your health, vision, dental or life insurance coverage.
It is our hope that the legislature will resolve the funding issue prior to the deadline so that state government can continue to provide services to Hoosiers without interruption.
