Iowa Governor Announces 181 Layoffs

Update: This is an update to the Iowa budget crisis we blogged about last week.

Iowa Governor Chet Culver accepted a deal to slash $520 million from the budget, ordering unpaid furlough days as well as requesting that unions renegotiate contracts in lieu of layoffs.

“The good news here is we’re making progress,” said the governor.

The governor’s cost-cutting plan will result in 181 layoffs coming from 28 different departments and will leave 230 vacant positions unfilled. In addition, 3,258 non-union workers will be required to take seven unpaid furlough days by June 20, 2010.

Those agencies that are affected are will have to submit plans for layoffs by Friday.