Overview
- The board’s action combines 332 departures under a summer Voluntary Separation Program with 170 vacant positions abolished as unneeded.
- The buyout attracted 877 valid applications, of which 332 were approved, with all separations taking effect on Sept. 30.
- Approved workers received $20,000, $300 per year of service, payment for unused leave, six months of state-paid health coverage, and must wait at least 18 months before returning to state employment.
- The Moore administration estimates about $121 million in general-fund savings this fiscal year, while DBM forecasts $27.4 million in fiscal 2026 and $47.2 million in fiscal 2027 and beyond.
- The reduction is part of a broader deficit strategy that includes a hiring freeze, agency staffing reviews, and a budget mandate to abolish vacant positions after a projected shortfall exceeding $3 billion.