The Michigan Department of Human Services will lose 270 jobs this year, including about 100 layoffs.
The job reduction is the result of the $7.5 million budget cut approved by lawmakers last June.
That's according to Bob Wheaton, DHS spokesman, who said staff will receive layoff notices by tomorrow. The effective date of the layoffs is expected to be February 15.
Wheaton said DHS has worked since June to minimize layoffs by absorbing as many staff reductions as possible though attrition.
The total reduction of 270 positions represents more than 2 percent of the DHS workforce of 11,400.
"When all is said and done, there'll be the same number of case workers providing case management services in our county field offices," said Wheaton. "And there will be no reduction in the number of positions that provide direct child welfare services related to the modified settlement agreement."
"A lot of the positions are people who are involved in processing applications, and that work will go to our local county offices," said Wheaton.
Wheaton does not anticipate any more layoffs this fiscal year which ends September 30, 2015.
-- Virginia Gordan, Michigan Radio Newsroom
