Buyouts offered to employees at 10 state agencies to offset ND budget cuts

BISMARCK—Ten North Dakota state agencies are offering buyouts to their employees due to continued budget cuts.

A letter sent by participating agency heads Tuesday, April 4, announcing the "voluntary separation incentive program" cites a $1.5 billion revenue shortfall in the current two-year funding cycle that has already prompted budget cuts and workforce reductions.

"With the legislative session now in its final month, additional steps will be needed to balance the budget for this biennium and the next, and we anticipate further (full-time equivalent employee) cuts," the draft letter, provided by Gov. Doug Burgum's spokesman Mike Nowatzki, states.

Participating agencies are "hoping to limit the number of non-voluntary reductions that may be necessary," according to the letter. Nowatzki said there's no target for the amount of buyouts the agencies are seeking.

Read more: http://www.inforum.com/news/government/4245525-buyouts-offered-employees-10-state-agencies-offset-nd-budget-cuts