• CEDAR RAPIDS NEWS

500 transportation dept. workers to take furloughs
November 07, 2009 15:51 EST

AMES, Iowa (AP) -- About 500 Iowa Department of Transportation workers will be among the state employees required to take furlough days.

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver announced the seven-day furloughs last month to meet the state's budget needs. More than 3,200 workers who aren't covered by union contracts will be affected statewide.

Lee Wilkinson is director of the transportation department's Operations and Finance Division. He says about 500 of the department's 3,100 employees will take the furlough days.

DOT employees will be required to take their seven days of unpaid leave between Friday and June 24. They can take up to two days per pay period.

Culver is looking to reduce state spending by more than $565 million for the current budget year.

------

Information from: The Tribune, http://www.amestrib.com