Albany comptroller: Furloughs coming

Albany County Comptroller Mike Conners tells CBS6 News that job furloughs - a response he said he opposes - are expected to be used as a means of balancing the county's $20.5 million shortfall. The county executive's office said the furlough option is only under consideration, something County Executive Michael Breslin announced in May.

CBS 6 News contacted Conners after receiving a tip that county has been "talking about furloughs." After taking a call from CBS 6, Conners said Breslin has mentioned during department head meetings that because the meetings are not confidential he expected word would get out about the furloughs, something that Conners says Breslin "is going to do." Conners said he has sent a letter to the state comptroller asking how county furloughs might affects workers' retirement benefits.

On May 6, Breslin issued a news release saying the bedget gap is "due largely to a signifcant decline in sales tax revenues and state budget cuts."  Breslin said expenditure reductions under consideration include furloughs, pay and benefit reductions, separation incentives and layoffs.