DES MOINES, IOWA (AP) -- Layoffs and furloughs are possible as the Iowa Department of Public Safety cuts spending to comply with Gov. Chet Culver's 10 percent across-the-board budget cut.
Public Safety Commissioner Eugene Meyer says his department has to cut $8.9 million, and that means job cuts - as high as 15 percent of staff.
The agency has nearly 1,000 employees. Meyer on Tuesday outlined some options, including laying off about 100 law enforcement officers and civilians and requiring a department-wide furlough of 13 unpaid days. Both would save a total of about $6 million.
If furloughs are not possible, the number of layoffs could grow to 169 employees.
Other options include reducing the department's vehicle depreciation account by $2 million and reducing equipment and overtime budgets by $1 million.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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