Furloughs Affect Pocket Park at State Fair

Michigan’s budget situation once again means state employees have the day off.

This is the 5th of the 6 scheduled unpaid furlough days for most state workers.

And it affects another aspect of the State Fair — the DNR’s Pocket Park.

No paid DNR staff are there today at all.

The park has had DNR employees on hand during the day, but they’re there as volunteers.

The DNR asked a few weeks ago for volunteers to fill in and keep the Pocket Park staffed through the week.

Budget cuts mean the agency only has half the staff on hand that they had last year.

Lansing expects to save about $22 million from the furlough days.

The final scheduled one will be on September 4th.