Audio clip
Susan Sports
ROCK SPRING, Ga. — The third time was the charm for LaFayette, Ga., residents Joe and Lura Sheppard. The couple had been to the Department of Driver Services building in Rock Spring twice before finally getting new licenses Wednesday.
On one Monday visit, the building was closed because of the department’s new cost-cutting schedule. Another time the line and busy waiting area were too much for them.
“It was so crowded we couldn’t even wait,” Mr. Sheppard said.
Those waiting for their licenses Wednesday all seemed to agree that the crowd was larger because of the building’s reduced hours — a product of the state’s money woes.
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Staff Photo by John Rawlston/Chattanooga Times Free Press Lura Sheppard, left, gets her driver's license photo taken by examiner Amanda Craig at the Georgia Department of Drivers Services facility in Rock Spring on Wednesday. Starting today, all DDS facilities will be closed on one Thursday per month for the next three months and employees will have an unpaid furlough day due to state budget cuts.
Workers at all driver’s license centers across the state, including the Rock Spring, Dalton and Calhoun locations, are furloughed today as part of Georgia’s attempt to cut costs to make up for low tax revenue. Some, including the Rock Spring site, already have closed indefinitely on Saturdays.
Online services at www.dds.ga.gov will not be affected.
About 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, eight to 10 people waited underneath a sign stating that the room’s maximum capacity was 20 people. At least a dozen more sat in the waiting area.
“It’s crowded, I know that,” said Kathie Cruiz, of Chickamauga, as she sat waiting.
Losing the Saturday hours particularly hurts, she said.
“I’d rather come on Saturday and not have to take off work,” Ms. Cruiz explained. “It’s a lose-lose situation.”
Department of Driver Services furlough days
Today
March 18
April 22
Source: Georgia Department of Driver Services
Make that a lose-lose-lose. Workers at the Walker County building were not authorized to comment on the furloughs, but Department of Driver Services spokeswoman Susan Sports said the mandatory days off would affect family budgets as well.
“A furlough is a sacrifice to us just like everyone else,” she said.
Ms. Sports explained that the three furlough days were selected because they were shown to have the lowest transaction counts.
The move is estimated to save $300,000, based on department calculations.
“In addition to the wages of employees, it’s the operating expenses, the lights and everything else,” Ms. Sports said.
Andy began working at the Times Free Press in July 2008 as a general assignment reporter before focusing on Northwest Georgia and Georgia politics in May of 2009. Before coming to the Times Free Press, Andy worked for the Anniston Star, the Rome News Tribune and the Campus Carrier at Berry College, where he graduated with a communications degree in 2006. He is pursuing a master’s degree in business administration at the University of Tennessee ...
Until last June 1st, the standard operating hours for the drivers license offices have been 9 to 5 Tuesday thru Saturday (5-- 8-hour days = 40 hours), On June 1st 2009, most of the offices statewide changed to 4 -10-hour days thus the Tuesday thru Friday schedule still equals 40 hours in a week. Several offices throughout the state, however are still open on half a day on Saturday (8 to 12 noon) and requires the examiners to cut their hours during the week in order to not work over 40 hours in one week. The work schedule has never had the offices open for regular business on any Sunday or any Monday.
Furloughs for Georgia State Employees started last year, not sure exactly when for each department affected. The License department started furloughs in October. One day each month for October, November and December. The furlough day for January was suspended as a "reward" for implementing quickly the new more secure licensing process, which started in mid-December. Furloughs (one day a month) for Georgia State employees are indefinite.
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