SALEM

— Salem County freeholders voted to reinstate the 2012 layoff plan here Wednesday night, stating they want to keep all options open in their commitment to balance this year’s budget.

The plan includes the dismissal of 22 union county workers and the reduction of two other union employees from full-time to part-time status.

The motion to release the plan to the state was approved 6 to 2 along party lines with the four Republican freeholders voting “yes” and two Democrat freeholders voting “no.”

Freeholder Lee Ware, a Democrat, is out of town and was not present at the meeting to vote.

“The plan is being released as it is written, but we do have the ability to amend the plan or even remove it,” said Freeholder Deputy Director

. “But we need to get the process started just in case the layoffs are needed to balance the budget.”

The year 2012 has been one of the toughest for the freeholders in drawing up a balanced budget. Revenues and ratable are historically low and expenditures are on a meteoric rise.

The freeholders in Salem County had been ready to present a balanced 2012 budget on April 4, after already cutting $10 million to balance their spending plan. This all changed, however, in late March, when

.

The budget discrepancies also forced the freeholder board

, but

made a motion to reinstate that plan Wednesday night.

But in order for the freeholder board to move forward with the layoff plan it must first be approved by the state.

Salem County Clerk of the Board Earl Gage said that process can take 60 to 90 days. The state can either amend, approve or, reject the plan.

“Our main goals is to not lay any of the workers off, but if the plan is not released to the state it will go further down the road before approval is granted,” said Laury.

The break down of the 22 layoffs is as follows: Bus Service-2, Rutgers Cooperative Extension-1, Salem County Corrections-1, Engineering-1, Facilities Management -9, Information Technology-1, Mosquito Control-2, Public Information Office-1, Public Health-1, Bridges and Roads-2, and Superintendent of Schools-1.

Two employees from Emergency Services are also in danger of being dropped from full-time to part-time.

The cuts approved in the plan come from members of the county’s largest union — Communications Workers of American Local 1085.

As it stands right now, none of the county’s law enforcement unions will be impacted by layoffs in 2012.

“My concern is this is only CWA employees,” said Freeholder

. “This plan targets them and it’s just not a balanced plan.”

Bobbitt said the board has had time since March to amend the plan to include other unions before they sent it to the state.

Freeholder

felt this just sends the wrong message to the dedicated county employees.

“I think if we do this it sends a message to the employees that we have given up on them,” said Timberman.

In total, the freeholders are now working to cut approximately $3 million to balance the 2012 budget. So far, $1.1 million has already been slated to the union concessions and $500,000 toward the layoff plan.

To fund the remaining $1.9 million, the county is considering all options including restructuring county departments, reducing their vehicle fleet, layoffs, furloughs and even a tax hike.

said they have met with county worker union representatives multiple times to discuss their role in helping decrease the budget deficit.

Acton said non-union county workers are also likely to chip in and share the load by matching the concessions given by the unions.

Salem County CWA union representative Carolyn D. Shoemaker shared her disdain for the plan Wednesday night.

“We are still upset that the layoff plan is only effecting our union,” said Shoemaker. “The problem is certain promises were made in the past and we took the county for its word, but it didn’t come out to play.”

Shoemaker said CWA workers are very cautious, especially now there are talks of layoffs.

Contact Phil Dunn at (856) 935-1500 Ext. 435 or pdunn@southjerseymedia.com. Follow me on twitter @philmdunn