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County workers ride the merry-go-round of pink slips

By Bill Varian, Times Staff Writer
In print: Tuesday, August 12, 2008

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TAMPA — So your boss comes to you and says you will be laid off in three months.

A month later, he comes back and says, never mind, things have changed.

That situation is now playing out at Hillsborough County Center.

Some county employees who were told this summer they would be laid off or demoted by the end of the year are being told this week they can keep their jobs.

Meanwhile, other employees who thought they had escaped the budget ax are finding out that's not so.

The original notices were sent out this summer based on County Administrator Pat Bean's recommended budget. But then county commissioners made changes to the budget.

Commissioners could still make more changes before the end of September, though major ones aren't expected.

So why not just wait until the budgeting process is finished, rather than putting employees through that anxiety?

"We did that in an effort to give our employees as much notice that we could," said Dara Chenevert, division director of organizational support for the county's Human Resources Department.

A memo sent out in June that identified positions that could be eliminated did say the list could change based on the budget process. Commissioners later restored some positions, including some in code enforcement, consumer protection and parks, while targeting other areas for reduction.

Asked if the county had lost employees who might have escaped unscathed, Chenevert said it was likely. She said it was better to be open and let people decide if they want to seek employment elsewhere that looks more stable.

After all, the state could yet push for further property tax reductions or property values could continue falling.

"A lot of people in that kind of climate where there may be some uncertainty, generally, if they're convinced they want a more stable environment, they may go look for another job anywhere," Chenevert said.

In all, about 50 people will receive notices this week that their jobs are in danger. The number excludes 16 people who had received similar notices that are now being rescinded.

Their names and titles were not available Monday.

Bill Varian can be reached at varian@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3387.