Burlco expects it will have to lay off 79 employees

The Burlington County Board of Freeholders projects it will lay off 79 employees under the $221.2 million budget introduced last night.

In all, the county expects 135 employees will be affected by the budget as it looks at consolidating, merging, and outsourcing government operations to compensate for a $15.5 million shortfall while reducing the tax levy by $1 million.

Dozens of employees represented by Communications Workers of America Local 1036 packed the county Administration Building to speak out against proposed layoffs.

Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio sent a letter to the union this week asking it to consider freezing wages, paying toward members' health benefits, and eliminating three of 14 holidays. The county rejected the union's proposal for voluntary furloughs.

Local 1036 president Adam Liebtag told freeholders that the budget "put working people last," saying those targeted for layoffs made just $30,000 a year on average.

Freeholders emphasized that the budget was only a proposal, not final.

In a closed conference meeting yesterday before the public session, newly hired County Administrator Paul Drayton agreed to reduce the term of his contract from three years to one in light of controversies about his personal and business finances and the manner in which he was hired.

At last night's meeting, Freeholder Mary Anne Reinhart, a Democrat on the 3-2 Republican-majority board, said she had filed a complaint with the state Inspector General's Office alleging mismanagement by the county in relation to the budget process, among other things.