Utah Department of Natural Resources employees to take 1-day furlough

SALT LAKE CITY — Employees at the Utah Department of Natural Resources will have to take a one-day furlough by the end of January as the agency works to meet the governor's mandated 3 percent budget cut this fiscal year.

DNR Executive Director Mike Styles says he found out recently that he has to cut $761,000 in spending by June 30.

The agency employs the equivalent of 1,359 full-time workers. It's one of Utah's largest agencies and includes seven divisions.

A spokeswoman says the 10-hour furloughs, which can be taken in two five-hour chunks, will save the department an estimated $250,000.

Gov. Gary Herbert earlier this month issued an executive order for the 3 percent across-the-board cuts to offset a $183 million budget shortfall.