22 LB staffers get pink slips

Twenty-two Legislative Bureau staffers received notices of non-renewal of employment contract on Friday afternoon because no budget has been enacted 30 days before the expiration of these employees’ contracts on Sept. 30.

The Legislative Bureau may also be forced to reduce its workforce if the final budget legislation does not sufficiently fund the bureau to maintain its current level of 22 full-time employees.

LB director Glenna SP. Reyes, in her two-page notice to the employees, said she’s optimistic that a fiscal year 2012 budget act will be enacted prior to the end of the fiscal year and sufficient funding will allocated to the bureau to maintain its current staffing.

“However, I am also cognizant that the bureau may be forced to take adverse personnel actions if it is not sufficiently funded in the final budget act,” Reyes told the LB staffers in her letter, a copy of which was obtained on Friday.

One of those who received a notice, who asked that her name be withheld, said she’s worried about her family if she doesn’t get paid for the duration of days a new budget is not enacted or if she loses her job because of a possible reduction in force.

“There won’t be food for the children. We don’t know how many days we will be in shutdown,” she said.

Another employee asked whether the LB director’s contract will also not be renewed if and when there’s no budget passed on time.

Reyes said she continue to seek the Legislature’s assistance on the bureau’s funding.

“As both houses deliberate on House Bill 17-215, HS1, HD5, I will continue to seek for their compassion on the potential consequences to employees and request for their support in providing us with sufficient funding and for the enactment of a budget,” Reyes told staffers.

The House passed a $102 million budget bill on Aug. 31, and transmitted it to the Senate on Sept. 1.

Senate President Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota) said the Senate will pass a budget bill on Sept. 8.

But the Senate has already announced planned changes in the House-passed bill, including increasing funding to Northern Marianas College and the Public School System. Whatever change the Senate does to the budget will have to be voted on by the House.

Another budget deadlock could lead to another partial government shutdown that will force over 1,000 employees out of jobs for days or until a new budget bill is enacted.