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LCTCS board authorizes elimination of 66 board-office positions tied to program transfers and federal funding shifts
Summary
The board approved staff's layoff-avoidance/reduction plan after staff said the Fast Start program will transfer to the Department of Economic Development and federal changes will end funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, together prompting elimination of 66 board-office positions (59 vacated by transfer and seven MEP positions staggered through October).
At the June 11 meeting, LCTCS system staff asked the Board of Supervisors to approve a layoff-avoidance/reduction plan that would eliminate 66 positions in the board office.
Staff explained two drivers: the Fast Start workforce-training program is transferring to the Louisiana Department of Economic Development (LED) effective June 23, and that transfer will leave 59 LCTCS positions vacant and without a business need at the board office. Separately, staff said federal funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) will not be continued beyond the current federal fiscal cycle; as a result the board office will eliminate seven MEP-related positions on a staggered schedule (five staff positions effective Aug. 3, one director effective Sept. 1 and one executive director effective Oct. 1) to allow program closeout and federally required compliance work.
System presenters said employees and affected staff had been notified and that the agency had explored alternative layoff-avoidance measures (withholding merit increases, furloughs, use of leave, retirement incentives) before recommending the reduction; staff also said they were working to help employees find other opportunities within state government or the private sector where possible. Fiscal adjustments include replacing roughly $250,000 in indirect-cost funding lost in the Fast Start transfer with general funds and covering about $115,000 in indirect-cost reductions elsewhere with general funds so that no additional board-office deficit is expected beyond planned replacements.
Staff formally recommended that the board approve elimination of 66 positions at the board office and authorize the system president to evaluate positions and functions to achieve efficiencies under revised statute. After discussion, the board approved the recommendation.
Staff said the reductions align with statutory requirements for operational efficiencies, and that additional board-office realignments would be brought forward in a similar review process if needed.
