Health Department layoffs latest in county financial woes

AURORA – After 25 full- and part-time Health Department employees learned Friday that they would lose their jobs, it remained unclear if other county departments would follow suit.

Health Department Executive Director Paul Kuehnert said financial strain from a loss of state and federal grants, along with decreasing local tax revenue, made the cuts necessary.

“We deeply regret having to do this,” he said.

The eliminations, which include nine full time and 16 part time employees, will take effect Nov. 30, giving ample time for the employees and the department to adjust to the change, Kuehnert said.

Along with layoffs, 13 vacant positions will not be filled.

In response to struggling economic times, the Kane County Board has called on department heads to slash their budgets by 1.5 percent compared to last year – in whatever way they can, County Board Chair Karen McConnaughay said.

On Tuesday, the board is expected to vote on whether or not to enact a hiring freeze on top of those budget cuts.

Kuehnert said he wouldn’t be surprised if other departments have to cut staff to make up for decreased revenues, along with the budget cuts.

“We are not the only place in the county facing these challenges,” he said.

McConnaughay said it’s unclear whether layoffs are on the horizon anywhere else, adding that the Health Department is one of the most-heavily reliant on state funds, which makes it more vulnerable.

“There has been a trend at the state level of reduced local funding,” McConnaughay said. “Clearly this has an impact.”

Kuehnert said that in the next three months his staff will be trying to find ways to best serve the public with the loss of the positions.

For months, Kuehnert and other executive staff tried to overcome a near $1 million budget deficit without layoffs, but that was not possible, he said.

Instead, positions were cut across the board, and in ways that will minimize public services, Kuehnert said.