Sisters and Brothers:
After meeting with management today, here is the latest information on the budget crisis:
For those of you who read the budget proposal and did not notice any job cuts, you are not alone. However, if you look closely at page M-11, you will see an entry for Turnover Adjustment that amounts to $5,806,924. This represents the nearly six million dollars which President P plans on cutting from our 2011 budget. President P does not have the authority to tell the Public Defender where to make those cuts. Therefore, while the budget document does not show the actual staffing cuts, Judge Cunningham must nonetheless shave almost six million dollars from the budget. In a meeting with Judge Cunningham’s representatives today (2/4/2011), his representatives informed the Local that the six million dollar budget hole will be filled in part by the elimination of 68 bargaining unit attorney positions, of which 5 are vacancies. That means 63 bargaining unit public defenders laid off.
But the fight has just begun. President P’s Budget must still face a vote before the County Board. Nine votes are needed for passage. That is why your calls, letters, emails, and attendance at budget hearings is essential to maintaining the current staffing levels in our office. There is no time to waste. No doubt, it will be an uphill battle. But we’ve done it before and we can do it again.
Stay updated by checking your emails daily.
In Solidarity,
K. S. Galhotra
President
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