Citing “shifting business needs,” Johnson County government has eliminated eight staffed positions from four departments, and given a separation package to the departing employees.
Jobs were cut in the election office, appraisers office, the department of health and environment and the department of treasury, taxation and vehicles, according to information provided by county Communications Director Lisa Thurber.
No information was given on how many jobs were cut from each department or how high up the pay ladder they went. But the total savings to the county estimated by the cuts was $1.1 million, Thurber wrote in an emailed response to questions. The financial impact has been a part of the 2027 budget since it was presented by the county manager’s office in May, she said. That budget was recently approved by the county commission.
The eliminated jobs were 100% funded by county property taxes.
8 ex-employees were offered separation packages
The now-former employees were offered a separation package that includes 16 weeks of current pay and a continuation of current benefits through the end of 2027, Thurber said. The former employees also get access to outplacement services or retirement consultation as well as a priority consideration if they apply for an open job in the county.
The job cuts came about because of a decrease in the workload for a variety of reasons, Thurber said. Those include a consolidation of functions, shifting demand for certain services and legislative changes.
“Careful review of these positions showed that either their associated responsibilities had become less essential over time or their workloads decreased enough to be incorporated into other positions,” Thurber’s email read.
“While decisions that impact valued employees are never easy, they are sometimes necessary to meet changing community priorities and uphold our commitment to good financial stewardship,” she wrote in an email that also thanked employees for their contribution.
A hiring pause is in place
According to its own webpage, there is a hiring pause in place on tax-funded vacant positions. There are some new positions for 2027, but they are funded from non-tax revenue (like grants) or through reallocation of existing resources, according to the webpage.
There are just over 4,426 full-time equivalent positions in the 2027 county budget. No new positions funded by property taxes were added to the county budget, excluding the park and library taxing jurisdictions.
There are nine new full-time equivalent positions in the budget for parks and library, and they are funded either from those districts’ own mill levies or park and recreation user fees.
Of those nine new positions, one full-time equivalent position in the county Park and Recreation District is funded with property tax revenue, and five full-time equivalent positions are funded with Enterprise Fund user fees. The county Library district will have three new full-time equivalent positions funded with property tax revenue.
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