Governor Jim Pillen Eliminating State Jobs Vacant for 90-Days

State jobs vacant for more than 90-days in Nebraska, with exceptions for critical public safety positions, were eliminated Tuesday afternoon with the signing of Executive Order 24-03 by Governor Jim Pillen.

State funds held in reserve for these positions will be allocated to the Budget Administrator, to be “re-directed to other priorities or returned to Nebraskans in the form of property tax relief,” said Pillen in a news release.

The first round of eliminations will take place on June 1, 2024, applying to nearly 1,000 jobs. More positions will be evaluated every 90-days after.

Job positions exempt from this order include:

• Law enforcement, fire fighters, correctional officers, children and family service specialists, and other similar positions that directly involve public safety
• Positions that provide support for 24/7 services
• Highway maintenance, constriction workers, and similar positions
• Positions exempt from the State Personnel System outlined by Neb. Rev. Stat. §81-1316
• Positions being held vacant due to the allocated funds being used to pay out temporary personnel liabilities
• Positions actively being reclassified
• Other positions approved by the Governor’s Office to remain vacant, by recommendation of the Budget Administrator.

The Nebraska Department of Administrative Services State Personnel Division shares authority to implement procedures related to this order.

“I promised to run state government like a business and this order delivers on that promise,” said Gov. Pillen. “These positions have been vacant for months or even years, and yet government has continued to function. We have proven we can work without them, so we will eliminate them and return the money to the taxpayers.”

“The elimination of the nearly 1,000 already identified positions will result in estimated savings to the state of $39.4 million — $15.2 million of which is direct savings to the General Fund. Savings of up to 25% more may be possible, after considering market factors relative to hiring certain positions at a higher rate. That could bump up total taxpayer savings to roughly $49 million,” Pillen mapped out in his news release.

Employee’s Union Responds

Members of the Nebraska Association of Public Employees applaud in the State Capitol rotunda, following remarks from the unions Executive Director Justin Hubly. December 7th, 2023. (Chase Porter, KLIN News)

The Nebraska Association of Public Employees (NAPE/AFSCME Local 61), the state employee’s labor union representing over 8,000 workers, released a statement following the signing of EO 24-03.

More than 1 in 5 state jobs are currently vacant waiting for an applicant to fill the position, according to NAPE.

“This decision hurts all Nebraskans,” said Justin Hubly, Executive Director of the union. “We should expect consequences, including longer lines and closures at DMV locations to continue, hold times to increase when applying for Medicaid, and a slow down in the delivery of unemployment services, just to name a few. We want to do the best for our neighbors, but we simply can’t deliver quality service with a permanent 20% reduction in the state workforce.”

NAPE members will enter new labor contract negotiations this September.

“Now it is clear that the Governor expects public employees to work short staffed permanently,” the statement reads. “Members who, because of this Executive Order, will be forced to do even more work for the same pay, plan to negotiate higher wages if the Governor is unwilling to appropriately staff state agencies.

“The Governor has a noble goal of reducing property taxes and running the most efficient state government possible. Funding for property tax relief, however, cannot come at the expense of providing quality frontline services to all Nebraskans,” Hubly said.

The EO takes effect immediately. A copy of the executive order is available below.