Metro Parks Tacoma issues furlough notices to 85 employees, projects $13M revenue loss
Metro Parks Tacoma issued furlough notices to 85 full-time employees on Tuesday due to impacts of shutdowns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Metro Parks is facing an estimated $13 million loss over the next six months in fees, sales and property taxes, it said in a press release. The financial impact will last “well into the summer and beyond,” according to the agency.
The furloughed employees are from every department, said spokesperson Hunter George. The notices identify June 30 as an anticipated return date. Some could possibly return earlier.
Metro Parks is working with IUOE Local 302 over a request to furlough 64 members of the union. If approved by the union, total furloughed staff would climb to 149.
The announcement comes two weeks after Metro Parks laid off 520 seasonal and part-time workers.
“It is heartbreaking to furlough staff whose unwavering passion helps our agency operate at the highest levels,” executive director Shon Sylvia said in the press release. “After extensive research into state and federal assistance, this furlough plan is designed to preserve income and benefits while allowing us to keep enough staff on hand to manage essential functions during the closures. We will get through this, and our talented staff will return to do great work for the community.”
Metro Parks also is addressing its budget shortfall by reducing non-essential utilities, using funding from reserves, leaving vacancies unfilled, deferring or reducing contracts for service and reducing pay for executives and senior managers.
The combined efforts are projected to save $7.5 million, just over half of the estimated revenue shortfall, according to Metro Parks.
