The move is in response to the overall down turn of the economy, which has left the Halifax County town of Roanoke Rapids with a revenue shortfall of $664,000.
It isn't clear if the employees will resume a normal workday schedule after June 30, but Lee says, "We are ready to face the challenge, and we are ready to do what we need to do to have a positive cash flow at the end of June 30th."
Lee says department heads were notified on Friday and those managers have been calling their employees.
These furloughs affect all employees from all departments. Lee says the problem with the Roanoke Rapids Theatre is not a direct cause of the budget shortfall, but says, "if we did not have the theatre, we would be in a much better position to handle the situation.
The tiered furloughs will take employees making less than $30,000 will take unpaid leave for two days. Those making between $30,000 and $50,000 will be asked to take three days of unpaid leave and those making over $50,000 will be asked to take five days of unpaid leave.
The city has 148 permanent full time workers and some part time positions. The majority of the part time positions have been frozen.
