To State Employees,

Thanks for taking a minute to visit this website.  As you all know, we will be taking more than $450 million in budget reductions to the Board of Public Works today due to the continuing national recession. 

These are not easy decisions and the reductions once again call on state employees to make sacrifices.  There is no avoiding that.  But just as families, businesses, and individuals across Maryland are struggling to find ways to tighten their belts, our state government must do the same and must do more with less. 

I know many of you have questions about the furlough plan and budget reductions, and I hope this website can begin to address many of them.  I have also asked our cabinet secretaries to make sure human resource personnel are available to answer any questions you may have. 

We structured the furlough plan on some of your suggestions.  Many of you suggested that furloughs be implemented on days when most government functions are closed.  This will allow the state to achieve additional savings from closed buildings and offices.  We’ve included that as part of the plan.  Many of you also suggested that we consider ways for employees who are exempt from furloughs to participate in the program.  We’ve included that in the plan as well. 

I know this will not be easy for you or your families, but I do believe that working together we will come through this national recession, even as we continue to reform our state government and make it more efficient. 

Thank you.

Martin O’Malley
Governor