Hennepin County Sends Layoff Notices

Here is a summary of some of the latest news and links about the looming state-government shutdown.

Gov. Mark Dayton and GOP lawmakers met briefly on Monday, June 27 to resume budget negotiations. Dayton called the Monday talks “constructive” and “cordial” but offered little else to indicate the likelihood of a shutdown.

GOP leaders and Gov. Mark Dayton focused on health and human services spending at the 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 28 meeting. According to Session Daily, Dayton said budget talks are moving forward, but was characteristically tight-lipped about how close they are to deal.

The governor and lawmakers are scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. June 28 and possibly later this evening. 

If no compromise is reached, state services are scheduled to begin shutting down at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 1, 2011.

Metro Area response
In anticipation of the government shutdown Hennepin County issued layoff notices to around 1,300 of its 7,500 workforce Monday, June 27.

The layoff notices—which span everything from unfinished construction projects to unfunded care at Hennepin County Medical Center—come with a 10-day waiting period before becoming effective. Hennepin County Administrator Richard P. Johnson hopes the notices can be rescinded, and the shutdown avoided, before that time.

Hennepin County is home to 1.2 million residents, employs 7,500 staff and has an annual operating budget of $1.6 billion.

Ramsey County has also begun taking steps to prepare for a potential shutdown.

In its June 14 meeting, County Commissioners directed County Manager Julie Kleinschmidt to “quantify and categorize” the impact of a state shutdown on Ramsey County. Ramsey County is home to 501,000 residents, employs 4,000 staff and has an annual operating budget of $585 million.

Department of Natural Resources
With the July 4 holiday weekend looming, one of the most immediate impacts of the shutdown will be felt by the the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

According to Albert Lea-based KIMT TV, this weekend more than 60,000 overnight campers and 340,000 day users are expected to use the DNR’s 67 parks across the state. In the event of a shutdown, those people and their money—an estimated $12 million per week—will go somewhere else.

According to the DNR, unless a budget compromise is reached, the parks will begin shutting down at 4 p.m. on June 30. The DNR website and Information Center Services will be suspended and the administration expects to lay off most of its staff.

has also examined the shutdown's effect on DNR operations.

In Maple Grove

The city of Maple Grove and Osseo School District 279 continue to watch and wait for a potential state government shutdown. According to Maple Grove City Administrator Al Madsen, several transportation projects in Maple Grove could be halted if the shutdown happens. The Osseo School District is expecting potential problems as well.

The Hennepin County Maple Grove Service Center will likely be closed in early July the event of a state government shutdown, according to Hennepin County Public Information Officer Carol Allis who was awaiting verification of the potential date of closure.