A must-read from David DeCamp:
Pinellas County began handing out pink slips Thursday to 211 employees who face layoffs under budget cuts — the start of dramatic reductions in basic services as the county contends with slumping tax rolls.
The layoffs run through virtually every department, affecting everything from parks and street repairs to customer service and health care.
“These are people with house payments, car payments, kids in school — it’s just a shame,” County Commissioner John Morroni said. “But we’re in an economy that is the worst it’s been in 60 years. And things have to change with it.”
The layoffs are part of changes that County Adminstrator Bob LaSala has promised will “radically” reshape government, leading to a fourth year of cutting jobs and dismantling programs and departments. The county faces an $80 million deficit over the next two years. Continue reading here.
