DHS furloughing employees to cut costs

JACKSON — The Mississippi Department of Human Services (DHS) says it will furlough its employees one day next month because of the budget shortfall.

The agency’s executive director, Don Thompson, said March 18 that most DHS offices will be closed April 2, which is the Friday before Easter. Oakley Training School will remain open.

Thompson says additional unpaid days off for DHS employees might be announced before the fiscal year ends June 30.

Gov. Haley Barbour has cut most the budgets of most agencies by about 9 percent because revenues have fallen short of expectations.