The Shumlin administration has asked state agencies to identify up to 325 jobs to be cut to reach $10.8 million in savings.
Justin Johnson, administration secretary for Gov. Peter Shumlin, wrote a memo Wednesday obtained by the Burlington Free Press and others (http://bfpne.ws/1L6dXqg ). He says it seems unlikely the state's labor contract will be reopened as part of the solution to balancing the budget, and the situation leaves him with no alternative "but to begin planning for a significant reduction in force."
Vermont has a projected $112 million budget shortfall for next year.
Steve Howard of the Vermont State Employees Association said membership had settled on 2.5 percent raises. He said the state should go after the top 20 percent in wealth in Vermont, not snowplow drivers and administrative assistants.
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