The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare will close its offices for a full day every other Friday, starting next week and lasting until June 11.
The agency instituted half-day closures on alternating Fridays in January as a way to reduce costs and increase unpaid furloughs for employees.
The expanded closures, prompted by a revised budget for the current year that lawmakers set last week, are expected to save $1 million as employees take 13.5 furlough days and a 5 percent cut in annual pay.
However, some critical state services, including operating the state mental hospitals and responding to child protection calls, will not be affected. (IdahoReporter.com)
