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DEQ Sends Out General Layoff Notice

March 31, 2008

The following is an E-mail sent by DEQ Director Steve Chester concerning layoff notices going to DEQ members.  We are in touch with our legislative liaison to do whatever we can to assure the bills are passed.  Please watch for a possible "Get-Active" e-mail to legislators to support passage of this bill.

Update on April 2, 2008 - Click to view the Layoff Notice received on April 1, 2008 PDF

Dear DEQ Staff:

On March 27, 2008, the Senate passed the fiscal year (FY) 2008 multi-department supplemental appropriation bill (House Bill 5344), which included the $11.0 million in General Fund monies for DEQ to replace $11.0 million of fee increases. While the Senate and House versions have agreed on provisions related to the DEQ fee replacement, the Senate made changes to other provisions of the House passed bill. Because the Senate changed the bill, it must be returned to the House for further consideration in order to secure a final agreement. The soonest the House may act on the bill will be the week of April 7, 2008, when they return from their current spring recess.

Because the supplemental bill is not yet final, it will be necessary on April 1, 2008 to send to the bargaining units representing DEQ staff a 30-day advance notice of the possible need for layoffs of DEQ staff due to lack of an enacted appropriation to support DEQ programs in FY 2008.

The notice to the bargaining units is a necessary step per collectively bargained agreements; however, I remain hopeful that a budget agreement will be reached in a timely manner to avoid actual layoffs. Please be assured that the Executive Division is working diligently with the Legislature and State Budget Office to secure enactment of the FY 2008 supplemental appropriations bill with the funding needed to continue the current level of DEQ programs.

I will provide additional updates as new information becomes available. Thank you for your continued hard work and commitment to excellent service to Michigan citizens as we work to resolve our budget.

Steve Chester, Director