Latest news with #hiringfreeze
Forbes
9 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Maryland Institutes Hiring Freeze And Buyouts To Remedy $121 Million Gap
LANDOVER, MARYLAND - JUNE 7: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore goes to greet guests during a campaign event ... More 2024 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by) Governor Moore, who advocates for recruiting fired federal workers, now faces the challenge of retaining his state government employees due to Maryland's budget shortfall. In just a few days, beginning July 1, the state of Maryland will institute a state hiring freeze (of sorts) and offer voluntary employee buyouts to employees nearing retirement or otherwise eligible to accept the state government buyout offer. Governor Moore announced the hiring freeze and funding predicament. Moore announced Tuesday that the state will implement a hiring freeze for fiscal year 2026 (from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026) in response to the "historical fiscal challenge' that the current economy and budget present. Governor Moore stated that his administration is 'committed to engaging with our public sector unions as we work through these difficult decisions. We are moving with care and intentionality to minimize impact on current employees and be transparent throughout the process.' A union representative for Maryland's public service workers indicates that the union has remained in communication with the governor's office and will continue to advocate for resources for union workers. Some key tenants for the hiring freeze and buyout plan. State government leaders express that the administration will act with transparency and intentionality so as to limit confusion, minimize disruptions and avoid public service delays and interruptions for taxpayers. Basically, the administration intends to fix the budget shortfall by using a soft-hand approach with hiring, personnel and operational matters. The key tenants of the plan are as follows: Wes Moore's chief of staff clarifies details about the hiring freeze. Moore's chief of staff, Fagan Harris, discussed the plan for moving forward to remedy the budget shortfall while simultaneously recruiting and hiring skilled new workers for priority roles. During the interview with WTOP News on Wednesday, Harris clarified a few key points about the administration's plans. Regarding it being an actual full-blown hiring freeze, Fagan Harris says: Regarding buyouts and collaboration with unions, Harris says: Regarding continuing to recruit and hire federal workers while dealing with a $121 million budget shortfall, Fagan Harris says: The messaging from the Moore administration is that they intend to identify and remedy inefficiencies and eliminate vacant positions where possible so as to limit the negative impact to services and programs as well as current government employees and citizens. Recommended reading: New Federal Hiring Freeze End Date And Hiring Restrictions Nail The Interview: Answer 'Why Should We Hire You' Like A Pro How Long Will The Federal Hiring Freeze Last? Implications For Government Employees
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Quebec won't approve school board deficits this year
Quebec imposed a hiring freeze in the public education sector as of Nov. 1 due to its tight financial situation. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press) Quebec's school service centres and school boards will not be allowed to run a deficit or dip into any existing surplus to mitigate the latest budget cuts, the Education Ministry said in a letter sent Monday. In the letter sent out by Deputy Minister of Education Carole Arav, of which CTV News obtained a copy, educational institutions were told they would no longer be able appropriate their accumulated surpluses as of June 30, 2025. Institutions in Quebec typically have to ask the Education Ministry for permission to run a deficit. 'It should be noted that the appropriation rule was intended to allow public educational institutions to report a deficit up to the permitted appropriation limit without having to submit a request to the Minister of Education,' Arav said in her letter. 'Consequently, the rule changed to 0 per cent appropriation means that educational institutions can no longer present a deficit budget for 2025-2026.' Arav also said the Ministry has no plans to allow school authorities to present deficits if they were to request one. The Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA) said it was 'astounded, outraged and deeply alarmed' by the news in a statement. The Coalition Avenir Québec government announced a $570-million budget cut in the education system earlier this month, on top of the $200 million it slashed in December. 'This government is expecting us to make these astronomical cuts on the backs of our students, which is completely unacceptable. These reckless decisions will have devastating and long-term consequences for an entire generation of students,' said QESBA President Joe Ortona on June 13. 'This financial crisis was not created by school boards, and we will not allow our school system's integrity to be sacrificed to solve this government's deficit,' he added. In her letter, Arav said that 'despite the challenge,' she is 'confident' that administrative teams will be able to find 'the best possible solutions' while 'preserving the services provided to students as much as possible.' 'We are counting on you to act as guardians of the proper management of the public funds entrusted to you in your role,' she said. On Monday, the same day Arav sent her letter, the Fédération autonome de l'enseignement (FAE) called for Quebec Education Minister Bernard Drainville to step down, saying he is not fit for the position.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore to offer buyouts, implement hiring freeze for state employees
BALTIMORE — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore will offer a voluntary buyout program and implement a hiring freeze for state employees, according to an internal letter from the governor obtained by The Baltimore Sun Tuesday. In the letter, Moore said the passage of his fiscal year 2026 budget will require the executive branch to make '$121 million in General Fund personnel cost reductions.' To make these cuts, Moore said he will launch a 'Voluntary Separation Program' for state employees, assess opportunities to eliminate vacant positions and implement a hiring freeze as of July 1. 'Our action positions Maryland to more effectively navigate the extreme uncertainty caused by federal actions,' the letter reads. Republican lawmakers criticized the decision in a series of statements, noting Moore is now calling for the elimination of vacant positions — a plan state Sen. J.B. Jennings, a Republican who represents Baltimore and Harford counties, called for earlier this year. 'Back in February, I questioned the wisdom of expanding state government while facing a $2.8 billion deficit. I said then, and I repeat now: when you're in a hole, you need to stop digging,' Jennings said. 'The decision to finally enact a hiring freeze and reduce vacant positions is the right one — but it should have happened months ago, before the situation became more urgent.' ----------------
CBS News
4 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announces state hiring freeze, buyouts, citing historic fiscal challenge
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced a state hiring freeze, voluntary employee buyouts, and the elimination of vacant positions on Tuesday, citing a "historic fiscal challenge." The governor called the critical financial concerns the worst since the Great Depression. "And a federal administration that continues to harm Maryland's people and the economy," Moore said. What is included in the cost reductions? Gov. Moore said the cost reductions would save Maryland $121 million for the Fiscal Year 2026, which starts on July 1. According to our media partner, The Baltimore Banner, state employees found out about the hiring freeze and buys in a memo sent on Tuesday. "We have always taken a responsible, deliberate, and innovative approach to making State government work for Marylanders," Moore wrote in the statement shared with WJZ. Moore said the buyout program is still being worked on and will be determined in the next several weeks. The state says there will be facility consolidations, and it will eliminate vacant jobs based on "alignment with mission priorities." "We are committed to engaging with our public sector unions as we work through these difficult decisions," Moore said. "We are moving with care and intentionality to minimize impact on current employees and be transparent throughout the process."
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Maryland Gov. Moore tells state workers to prepare for hiring freeze, buyouts
Gov. Wes Moore told Maryland state employees on Tuesday that they should brace for a hiring freeze, voluntary buyouts and cuts to the workforce to balance a state budget that has been heavily impacted by Trump administration spending cuts, according to an employee email from the governor reviewed by The Washington Post. Moore told state employees in the email that the budget for fiscal year 2026, which was passed by the General Assembly this spring, requires his office to cut costs in the General Fund by $121 million. The state will implement a hiring freeze on July 1, a move that comes after months of Moore and state lawmakers trying to entice former federal workers fired by President Donald Trump to come work for the state of Maryland. Separately, Moore said the state will be launching a voluntary buyout program, the details of which are still being developed, according to the staff email. More information on the buyouts will be announced in 'the next several weeks,' Moore said. The governor said the state will also be 'assessing opportunities' to eliminate jobs slots within state agencies and other parts of state government that are not currently filled — a process that will ponder whether those positions align with 'mission priorities.' 'In these unprecedented times, Maryland is being tested by two storms: A historic fiscal challenge — the worst since the Great Recession — and a federal administration that continues to harm Maryland's people and the economy,' Moore wrote in the email to state employees. 'Our action positions Maryland to more effectively navigate the extreme uncertainty caused by federal actions.' The governor said that state officials are 'committed to engaging with our public sector unions as we work through these difficult decisions.' The governor's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This is a developing story and will be updated.
