853 Tennessee State Workers Sent Layoff Notices

Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen announced Wednesday that 853 layoff notices will be mailed out to state employees this week.

An additional 317 layoff notices will be sent out over the next six months as the Clover Bottom mental health facility is shut down.

“It’s unfortunate this has to happen, but I’m just trying so hard to guide the state through this very difficult economic time,” Bredesen said. “To do that we’ve got to keep our expenses matched to the revenues that come in.”

The layoff notices are being sent out now to insure they are vacant by the state’s next budget year which begins on July 1.