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Layoff notices issued as government shutdown looms

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Thousands of temporary layoff notices will go out to state workers Tuesday as a government shutdown looms.

Quick Facts:

  • Deadline for budget is June 30
  • 26,000 state workers would be laid off
  • Convicts would have limited to no supervison
  • Child care funding, help for veterans suspended
  • State parks would close

The seven-day notice is required by law.  Most of the formal notifications will be sent by email.

Lawmakers have until next Wednesday to pass a two-year spending plan.  Their second special session ends Saturday.

If lawmakers don't pass a budget, more than 26,000 state workers would be laid off, 30 state agencies would shut down and 25 would partially shut down.

Community corrections officers would be laid off, which means most convicts out of prison would have limited to no supervison.

Outside a halfway house on Capitol Hill, reporter Jeff Dubois met a convicted drug offender named John, who wears a GPS bracelet for monitoring -- a condition of his release.

If the government shuts down next week, he won't be monitored and many released felons won't have any parole case workers to check in with.

Democratic Senator Jamie Pedersen said the state could be at risk of a lawsuit if a released convict commits another crime.

Low-income working parents would lose help paying for child care, and a program that gives financial help to veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan would be suspended.

The Liquor Control Board and Lottery Department would also shut down, but  it's unclear how the lottery cuts would affect the actual lottery ticket sales or games. Dozens of state parks would also be closed.

Lawmakers are trying to hammer-out a deal on a two-year spending plan.

House Democrats have released their latest budget plan, and it doesn’t include any new taxes, but limits several tax exemptions.

Budget negotiators are working to come up with a final plan before the June 30 deadline.

There has never been a government shutdown in Washington State, but two years ago, lawmakers came close. Gov. Jay Inslee signed a budget on the last day.

Inslee says there's still plenty of time to strike a deal before next week's deadline.

KIRO

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