900 state workers OK taking buyouts
Gov. Charlie Baker is ruling out “across-the-board” layoffs after 900 state workers agreed to take buyouts, saving less than half of what administration officials hoped for but enough, apparently, to avoid slashing the workforce.
The voluntary buyouts — laced with incentives of $15,000 for retirement- eligible workers or $5,000 for those who weren’t — are expected to save about $12 million this fiscal year after officials pay out $23.2 million in incentives, sick time and other benefits.
Kristen Lepore, Baker’s budget chief, said they expect to save another $70 million in fiscal 2018.
The administration had said it was aiming to save $25 million immediately, with the potential of layoffs to follow. But a week after Baker made $98 million in unilateral budget cuts, officials said they wouldn’t seek large-scale moves to cut staff.
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