Groveland Twp.-At least one trooper assigned to the Michigan State Police team located in the township may be laid off after The Michigan Department of State Police announced a spending reduction plan to address a $13.6 million deficit the department is experiencing in the current 2007 fiscal year.
Shanon Akans Michigan State Police public affairs section manager said letters were sent to officially notify employees who will be impacted by the reduction in force. The layoffs are effective April 8.
‘It’s unofficial right now but the Groveland Team will be reduced to 10 troopers,? said Akans. ‘The 29 layoffs will result in a savings of approximately $2.3 million statewide. The savings actually starts by eliminating 29 higher level positions, in which those employees bump to lower level positions, and then eventually 29 troopers (being the least senior) are laid off.
The Michigan State Police team located in the township was eyed for closure in 2005, however, after more than a years of battles with the state remained.
Akans added while this plan does not include post closures, they remain an option for meeting future budgetary reductions.
Sergeant Lynn Walker, at the Groveland team had no official notice of any layoffs as of Thursday morning.