Washington County warns of furloughs in state shutdown

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Washington County could consider sending workers home without pay in a protracted state government shutdown, administrators warned Tuesday.

State government is set to shut down beginning Friday if Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and Republicans who control the Minnesota Legislature cannot agree on a budget for the two-year period beginning July 1.

A shutdown could delay or freeze state aid to counties, including Washington.

Washington County Deputy Administrator Molly O’Rourke said Tuesday that the county could be forced to consider furloughing some employees in an extended shutdown.

There’s “a lot of fear and anxiety in the organization,” O’Rourke said of county workers. Their concerns were exacerbated by Hennepin County’s decision Monday to begin handing out layoff notices to some employees.

The effects of a shutdown were discussed at the Tuesday Washington County Board meeting.

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