State Says Few Problems Reported On First Furlough Day

Kentucky Personnel Secretary Nikki Jackson says the state’s first furlough day earlier this month went smoothly. She says it was equitable and transparent and all effort was made to minimize the impact to the public. Jackson told the House and Senate budget committees she’s heard no grumbling.“Two of the agencies in particular – Cabinet for Health and Family services, and the Justice Cabinet – shared with me that they hadn’t received any comments from employees over that weekend," she says. "There were actually a few employees who were sharing stories about what they were doing over that weekend and how some of them were just trying their best to take advantage of the time with their families and friends.”September 3rd was the first of six furlough days state employees are taking this fiscal year to help reduce a 131-million dollar budget deficit. Gov. Beshear sought approval of the furloughs from the General Assembly, which granted his request in the May special session on the budget.