From the article: "Camden County is preparing to lay off almost one-sixth of its workforce by the end of March.
In paperwork submitted Friday to the New Jersey Civil Service Commission, the county said it would let go up to 261 of its 1,800 workers. The County Prosecutor's Office is also preparing to lay off up to 68 of its 230 employees, said spokesman Jason Laughlin.
Camden County is trying to close a budget gap of $41 million, the result of falling revenue and increases in pension and benefit costs, said Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli Jr.
"We are preparing for the worst as we develop our budget for the year," he said. "We're going to have a difficult time, not just this year but next year as well."
The filings come as state and local governments struggle to fill widening budget gaps during the ongoing economic downturn.
In the past, New Jersey governments might have filled the gap with tax hikes, but that option was minimized when Gov. Christie signed legislation last year capping property-tax increases at 2 percent.
County officials had been in discussion with the county workers' union for voluntary salary cuts of 10 percent, only months after signing a new three-year contract, said Council 10 President Karl Walko.
But the union resisted those concessions, having just received a 3.5 percent pay increase."
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