Stanislaus employees may see more pay cuts, furloughs and layoffs

Stanislaus County's 3,965 employees could face pay reductions, more furloughs and layoffs as administrators continue to wrestle with a daunting deficit.

County supervisors, behind closed doors Tuesday, discussed ongoing negotiations with 14 unions representing a majority of the employees.

"Everything is on the table," said Rick Robinson, the county's chief executive officer. Administrators have been meeting with union negotiators for about a month "as part of the county's larger strategy to find a way to balance our budget," Robinson said.

Leaders periodically point to an expected $20 million gap in the coming fiscal year, which starts July 1; that figure now is estimated at $23.4 million, Robinson said.

The county has cut programs and reduced its work force by 638 employees.

Supervisors reported having taken no formal action after emerging from their closed session Tuesday.