Layoff notices are being sent out to 31 Freeborn County employees today whose jobs could potentially be affected by a state government shutdown, according to Freeborn County Administrator John Kluever.

During a special workshop with department heads and the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners, Kluever said layoffs would become effective in two weeks if not otherwise rescinded.

The affected employees include 19 employees in the Public Health Department and 12 employees in the Human Services Department.

In the Public Health Department, this includes all of the department’s employees except for the employees of the Women, Infants and Children program, two support staff and the director of the department.

In the Human Services Department, this includes all staff at the Crime Victims Crisis Center, two staff in the options program, one employee with child protection, four social workers and one case aid worker.

“The longer this goes, the more impact we’re going to feel to the county,” Kluever said.

The layoffs are being made in accordance to what has been deemed as nonessential as of Friday.

Kluever said during the next two weeks he and the department heads will be gathering more information about how the shutdown will impact the county and evaluate if any of these employees will be able to stay on. The union required a two-week layoff notice.

He said there is a likelihood that before the notices become active, the total number of employees affected will be reduced, noting that the information coming out day to day is fluid. A “special master” is also making additional determinations on what is deemed an essential service.

County officials are trying to get a better feel for what if any delays in funding may be taking place and what potential risks there are that the state may not reimburse the county for certain services provided during the shutdown.

Friday marked the first day of the state government shutdown after Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and Republican legislative leaders failed to reach a budget agreement before the midnight deadline on Thursday going into Friday.

Kluever said there is large potential for county financial exposure during the shutdown and noted that to the extent possible, the county needs to avoid exposure to its taxpayers and to additional costs and financial risks.

Freeborn County Human Services Director Brian Buhmann said many of the services are a “moving target,” because the specifics of the shutdown are still being determined.

“Even though we got a court order on Wednesday, that can be defined differently day to day going forward,” Kluever added.

The following is a breakdown of how other county departments will be affected as of Friday afternoon:

• Administration: County levy dollars are used to support operations.

• Assessor: County levy dollars are used to support operations.

• Attorney: The courts have been deemed essential and will continue to operate. County levy dollars are used to support operations.

• Auditor-Treasurer: Some state systems may not be operating to their fullest capacity. County levy dollars are used to support operations.

• Court administration: All court staff are state employees and have been deemed essential by the courts.

• Court services: Two agents are state funded, and the remaining salaries are partially funded by the state. The next payment for these salaries is scheduled for September. With the courts being determined essential, it is likely the demand for this office will change.

The Sentence to Service program is funded 25 percent by the state and was considered essential.

• Environmental services: Two grants received from the state in April/May and October/November are used to support solid waste and water technician positions both fully and partially.

Kluever said he would continue to monitor the status of the grants and whether they will be reduced prior to the county receives them.

• Extension: The University of Minnesota will operate as normal under a shutdown, at least for the short term.

• Highway: County projects will be able to move forward; in areas where Minnesota Department of Transportation testing labs were being used, the county would have to use other private certified testing labs.

Most of the county’s active contracts have already received 95 percent of the project money through state aid funds in advance.

• Information technology: County levy dollars are used to support operations. Critical information services deemed essential.

• License Center: Most functions of the department will continue initially, though after a longer duration the center may start to run out of supplies. Expedited titles and DNR licenses will not be available.

• Recorder: This office generally covers expenses with revenue generated. Do receive some reimbursement from the state.

• Sheriff: One staff member with the South Central Drug Investigation Unit and one water patrol deputy position are being reimbursed and should not be affected.

• Veterans Services: County levy dollars are used to support operations.

Buhmann said one of the top priorities in the Human Services Department not included as a critical function, according to a state judge, is the issue of childcare assistance.

He said there are 120 families locally currently on the program. Per month this totals about $25,000.

“For stability reasons and keeping those 120 people employed, we may want to look at that,” he said.