Although the fiscal fight is over, state workers who lost their jobs during California's budget battle probably won't be rehired any time soon, a state official said Tuesday.
Finance Director Mike Genest said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's July 31 executive order that cut thousands of part-time and temporary positions, curbed overtime and suspended some outside service contracts will remain in effect through June and save the state about $340 million.
"Some of those people will not be coming back," Genest said shortly after Schwarzenegger signed the budget on Tuesday. "Some of those contracts will not be coming back."
But, he said, that departments could ask for exemptions that the state will consider "on a case-by-case basis."
Officials in July estimated Schwarzenegger's order – which also sought to reduce state worker pay to the federal minimum wage of $6.55 an hour – would eliminate 20,000 jobs. Then the administration exempted "essential" positions, including those affecting public safety, health and property.
That dropped the number of separation letters sent out by about half.
Gary Darr, 65, figures he won't be rehired. The Department of Transportation retiree regularly filled in for vacationing highway and bridge inspectors. He lost the job this summer but thought he'd be able to come back once lawmakers passed a budget. "I have 40 years of experience," he said after learning he might not be able to go back.
"There are a lot of people like me. Now all that expertise is gone."
Call The Bee's Jon Ortiz, (916) 321-1043.
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