News of the N.C. Department of Transportation’s decision to layoff eight Graham County workers quickly spread last week.
The only problem was, not a lot was known as to why it occurred. The department shed some light on the situation Aug. 14, when N.C. DOT Chief Operating Officer Robert Lewis addressed the media in Raleigh.
"We’ve had to go into our temporary and contract employees and lay those off in the coming weeks,” he said.
Lewis said during the press conference. “We’re reviewing those as we speak, but certainly it’s tough times right for NCDOT as we try to reduce our expenditures over the next few months.”
Lewis later emphasized that the department is not running low on funds, but has to stay at the “statutory floor,” the $300 million threshold that if reached, will see future projects put on-hold and the budget thoroughly reviewed.
That number was reached because of several factors, including hurricane-related expenses and slow disaster repayment from the federal government. The DOT has only received about 55 percent repayment for Hurricane Matthew-related expenses alone and a mere 11 percent for Hurricane Florence-expenses, both of which saw the department work to re-open roads and bridges after the storms. “It’s a process,” Lewis added. “We will certainly look for help in any way we can and work with our federal department.”
The announcement of the layoffs came just six days after the department announced its 2020-29 Statewide 10-Year Transportation Plan. Division 14 – Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Polk, Swain and Transylvania counties – had 100 projects on the list.
Among those improvements included an upgrade to N.C. 143 from West Buffalo Creek to Business N.C. 143, with a planned construction date of 2024.
Information from the department’s communications office also stated that about 1,000 of either temporary or contract workers are being evaluated, to see who will stay aboard. The final number of layoffs should be in the hundreds and no full-time DOT workers will be affected.
The department later added that the layoffs had nothing to do with the budget impasse between Gov. Roy Cooper and the General Assembly.
During the Aug. 14 presser, Lewis added that the DOT does not have a severance package for temporary workers. Only full-time employees receive the benefit.