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Clerk's office to lose dozens of jobs
TAMPA, May 13, 2009 (Tampa Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
As of Oct. 1, the Hillsborough County clerk of the circuit court's office will have at least 100 fewer positions due to legislative budget cuts.
About half of those will come through layoffs. The work force reduction includes current vacancies, retirements, resignations and unfunded positions that will not be filled.
The final number, however, has yet to be determined.
A somber Pat Frank gave her employees the news late Tuesday, announcing via an internal video address, that many of her workers will lose their jobs.
Affected employees will start receiving notice on Monday. There are 898 employees in Frank's office.
The layoffs will come in phases, concluding July 1.
Remaining employees will face a salary reduction, although the amount has yet to be determined. And additional unpaid furlough days are coming.
Frank has used the video announcements, called "Frank Talk," to speak directly to employees since she took office.
Tuesday's address, however, carried a particularly grim tone.
"As you can see, no one gets a pass under these dire conditions," she said on the video. "I wish I could push a button and make all of this go away, but I cannot. I have agonized for weeks about this eventuality, and I must tell you it breaks my heart to deliver this news to you."
The announcement comes just days after the state Legislature concluded its 2009 session.
Lawmakers had pushed to strip all court-related duties from Florida's 67 circuit clerks and make such tasks as case maintenance and collecting and distributing fines, fees, service charges and court costs the responsibility of the office of the state administrator.
The state representative sponsoring the bill, Republican Ellyn Bogdanoff of Fort Lauderdale, pushed for the change to help shore up a $5 billion state budget deficit and fix a broken system that she said gave clerks too much power.
Though the bill failed, the clerks still must give up oversight of their budgets and are being forced by legislative budget cuts to implement staffing changes.
The reduction equals about 1 in 9 employees, Frank said in the video.
"That is a staggering number to me," she told her employees.
Frank was not available for comment Tuesday.
Less than two months ago, Hillsborough County Chief Judge Manuel Menendez and court administrator Mike Bridenback, who supported the legislation to remove court-related duties, said widespread job losses likely wouldn't happen, at least not locally, if the switch were to occur.
Reporter John W. Allman can be reached at (813) 259-7915.
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