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56 County Workers Cut Or Transferred

By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: March 6, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - "Here, There and Everywhere," is the title of a famous Beatles song.

It could also apply to the repositioning of government workers as the county's streamlining efforts begin in earnest.

In the past 12 months, Hernando County has either eliminated or shuffled around 56 full-time employees, representing almost 7 percent of its 759-member workforce, according to county Human Resources statistics.

That number includes board of county commissioner employees, not Constitutional office workers.

Where did they go?

Jerry Haines, the HR workers' compensation and safety coordinator, broke it out this way for Hernando Today:

In all, 36 positions were eliminated and not filled. Not surprisingly, the majority of those - 12 - were from the beleaguered development department. The slowdown in construction is to blame.

Whether those jobs will be refilled if the market comes back is undetermined.

But none of those positions affected the general fund because the building department operates on a fee basis.

The other eliminated positions are as follows: five from public works, three from community relations, two from facilities, two from emergency management, two from parks, two from library services and two from utilities; one each from code enforcement, purchasing, the fire department, recreation, county extension and engineering.

Haines said 16 other positions were eliminated but the employees transferred to other departments - with 11 of them involving general fund money.

In addition, four positions were lost by attrition from the county fire department.

More job cuts or transfers could occur as a result of the county's proposed early leave policy, which is still in draft form and subject to change by county commissioners.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

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