Furlough fears hit Kansas state workers

State employees were hearing rumors and learning cold truths on Friday about whether the Legislature’s failure to craft a budget with funding will prompt them to be sent home without pay starting Sunday.

State furlough notices arrived by phone and e-mail starting about 1 p.m. Friday.

The legislature hopes to craft a finished budget by midnight Saturday, or see furloughs and a partial government shutdown.

At Wichita State University, President John Bardo and his administrators told WSU employees that summer classes and summer camps will continue, but that some people will be furloughed starting at 12:01 a.m. Sunday.

“Employees who will not be placed on furlough were notified of their status in an email earlier today” the WSU campus announcement said. “If you have not received such communication, then you will be furloughed...”

“Should furloughs occur and become extensive, we will revisit the needs of the university and adjust the list accordingly” the WSU notice said.

WSU administrators have said all week that they remained optimistic that the legislature will work out a budget and funding, in part because those legislators know, as WSU vice president for strategic communications Lou Heldman said on Wednesday, that furloughs might cause “serious” harm to the state economy.

This story was originally published June 5, 2015 at 2:05 PM with the headline "Furlough fears hit Kansas state workers."