Hennepin County Asks Employees to Consider Unpaid Leave Amid Budget Cuts

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Hennepin County is asking its employees to consider taking unpaid leave in 2025 due to potential federal funding cuts. County Administrator David Hough sent a letter earlier this month requesting assistant county administrators to voluntarily take 24 hours of unpaid leave, while other employees are asked to take eight hours.

“We have done this in the past,” Hough said. “In a meeting with our union leadership, it was proposed, and I said, ‘Absolutely, we will look at it.’” The last time Hennepin County implemented the Special Leave Without Pay program was after the financial crisis of 2008, during which it was mandatory.

This voluntary option comes as the county anticipates cuts to significant federal grants. Hough noted that Hennepin County relies on $217 million in direct federal grants and an additional $300 to $400 million in indirect funding. He expressed specific concern about funding related to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Medicaid, and emergency services.

As part of its budget planning for 2025, the county has begun to hold positions vacant and has requested departments to reduce budgets by 2% to 5%. “I want to make sure we’re prepared, being proactive versus waiting until the end and determining we have a real challenge here,” Hough explained.

Hough estimates that if all employees take eight hours of unpaid leave, the county could save approximately $2.6 million from its $3.1 billion budget. “It is a significant amount, but it also shows our employees have a vested stake at trying to help us achieve the savings we’re working through,” he said.

Hough clarified that if the anticipated funding cuts do not occur, employees will not receive a refund for the unpaid leave taken, as the savings would go back into the county’s general fund for the following year. No deadline exists for employees to take the unpaid leave, but prior approval from supervisors is required to avoid overtime issues.

In his letter, Hough acknowledges past hardships but emphasizes the importance of cooperation: “We’ve experienced hardships before and have come through the other side. I appreciate your willingness to participate in cost-saving measures that will help ensure ongoing services for our residents.”

For more details about the Special Leave Without Pay program, employees are encouraged to visit the Hennepin County website.