Some Osceola County employees got a big surprise when they showed up for work today–they no longer had a job.
More than 100 workers were sent home Thursday in an effort to cut $15.5 million from the County budget. County Commissioners took the decision to layoff workers rather than raise taxes to plug budget gaps.
But there was nothing civilized about the way workers were told they no longer had a job. County Manager, Michael J. Freilinger went to the various floors and departments bearing the bad news.
Employees, including some from the Road and Bridge Department and Osceola County Animal Control were told to go home. Some fire fighters could also be laid off.
The more than 100 employees who were sent home were told that they are on two weeks paid leave.
County Commissioners are paid $71,000 annually and perhaps that’s an area where expenditures could have been cut to help reduce the budget deficit.