By Katie Knapp Schubert
Omaha, NE – A hiring freeze is now in place in Douglas County government through the end of the year.
County Commissioners voted Tuesday morning to implement a hiring freeze in all departments. Douglas County department heads were asked to cut their budgets again this fiscal year.
Commissioner Pam Tusa, who introduced the hiring freeze, says it's another option for cutting costs. "I'm also bringing this because of the fact that I want to try to minimize layoffs so that way we don't hire additional people, bring them in for a couple of weeks or a couple of months, and then say well, I'm sorry, but we don't have the job available anymore."
The hiring freeze is in effect immediately. Exceptions include the employment of seasonal workers and jobs posted before Tuesday. If a county department wants to hire, the director must submit a request in writing to a newly-formed committee set up to hear those arguments. The committee will then decide if the job should be filled.