Fish and Game shuffles staff, averts game warden layoffs
By DON THOMPSON, Associated Press Writer
(Published Thursday, November 13, 2003, 5:55 PM)
SACRAMENTO (AP) - The California Department of Fish and Game said Thursday it will avert laying off game wardens and other employees by shuffling them into other vacant positions.
The department had been set to lay off every employee with less than 30 months' seniority because of the state's massive budget crunch.
That would have included 149 employees, 45 of whom are game wardens, reducing the department to about 225 game wardens in the field - similar to 1971 levels. The potential drop in enforcement alarmed environmental groups and some state lawmakers.
However, the state Department of Finance trimmed Fish and Game's $18.6 million budget reduction to $17.2 million after finding some positions are not funded by the state's beleaguered general fund. While 149 jobs will still disappear, those employees will now be cycled into existing vacancies elsewhere in the department, said spokesman Steve Martarano.
It also means jobs for 13 new game wardens who completed training this fall but had no where to go. The department still is closing down its warden academy at least for next year because it anticipates there would be no jobs available.
In a memo to department employees Wednesday, Acting Director Sonke Mastrup said that while layoffs have been avoided in the short run, there are no guarantees particularly if the department exceeds its budget. He warned the department may have to delay or limit discretionary projects and activities as a result.
Mastrup took over in the interim after recalled Gov. Gray Davis named former director Robert Hight to a judgeship.
Thursday's announcement comes a day after the secretary of the state's Resources Agency, which oversees Fish and Game and other departments, said the agency would run out of money and be forced to shut down.
State lawmakers denied their cutting of general fund money from the Resources budget would force a shutdown, noting that the agency has other operating funds and can shift money from other programs. Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger's staff also dismissed the idea of a shutdown.
By DON THOMPSON, Associated Press Writer
(Published Thursday, November 13, 2003, 5:55 PM)
SACRAMENTO (AP) - The California Department of Fish and Game said Thursday it will avert laying off game wardens and other employees by shuffling them into other vacant positions.
The department had been set to lay off every employee with less than 30 months' seniority because of the state's massive budget crunch.
That would have included 149 employees, 45 of whom are game wardens, reducing the department to about 225 game wardens in the field - similar to 1971 levels. The potential drop in enforcement alarmed environmental groups and some state lawmakers.
However, the state Department of Finance trimmed Fish and Game's $18.6 million budget reduction to $17.2 million after finding some positions are not funded by the state's beleaguered general fund. While 149 jobs will still disappear, those employees will now be cycled into existing vacancies elsewhere in the department, said spokesman Steve Martarano.
It also means jobs for 13 new game wardens who completed training this fall but had no where to go. The department still is closing down its warden academy at least for next year because it anticipates there would be no jobs available.
In a memo to department employees Wednesday, Acting Director Sonke Mastrup said that while layoffs have been avoided in the short run, there are no guarantees particularly if the department exceeds its budget. He warned the department may have to delay or limit discretionary projects and activities as a result.
Mastrup took over in the interim after recalled Gov. Gray Davis named former director Robert Hight to a judgeship.
Thursday's announcement comes a day after the secretary of the state's Resources Agency, which oversees Fish and Game and other departments, said the agency would run out of money and be forced to shut down.
State lawmakers denied their cutting of general fund money from the Resources budget would force a shutdown, noting that the agency has other operating funds and can shift money from other programs. Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger's staff also dismissed the idea of a shutdown.
