Gov. Linda Lingle said today that most state offices will close all or portions of operations on two Fridays a month, starting this Friday, after the state’s largest public-sector union agreed to ratify a contract that includes furloughs.

The Lingle administration said some departments and agencies will follow separate furlough schedules and remain open on furlough Fridays, including the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and community health centers. Several other offices will maintain current office hours but stagger and rotate furlough days.
“Our focus in developing the furlough plan was to ensure state government offices continue to provide the best possible service to the public under the current fiscal circumstances,” Lingle said in a statement. “I have every confidence that our dedicated state employees will do whatever they can within their operations to minimize disruptions in services. We appreciate the public’s understanding and patience as our employees make the necessary adjustments in their work schedules.”
Most bargaining units of the Hawaii Government Employees Association have ratified a new contract that calls for 18 furlough days this fiscal year and 24 furlough days next fiscal year for most state workers represented by the union.
The new contract is expected to save the state $204 million over two years.
The Lingle administration has estimated a budget deficit of $1 billion through June 2011.
A detailed furlough schedule is available on the governor’s Web site at www.hawaii.gov/gov.
Lingle, meanwhile, is expected to meet this afternoon with state schools superintendent Pat Hamamoto and state Board of Education leaders about furloughs for public school teachers that will close schools on several Fridays, starting this Friday. Many parents have objected to the furlough plans for public schools, and an attorney has threatened legal action.