The Economy - Another sign of the end times?

High unemployment rates....

Faltering home loans....

I don't think there is any recovery for my state  (Oklahoma) in fact, we have been somewhat protected until recently and now the recession is starting to really affect us. Less taxes being collected, mean less monies to go to school systems and state agencies, so the cutbacks have started. Things like some schools going to 4 days a week instead of 5, this cuts back on gas for school buses, cafeteria and maintenance workers pay, utilities, their days are just a bit longer. State employees not getting per diem for meals when at training, not getting hotel rooms paid for when at away training, they pay for it themselves or they drive back and forth, health insurance co-pays gone up from $25 to $50 for each doctors visit, talk of mandatory unpaid furlough days. Layoffs for school employees and state employees.  I know schools and state employees are hit hard as I have a kid and grandkids in the public school system and as far as the state employees, hubby and my oldest daughter are both state employees.

Until recently, Oklahoma had been doing ok, but it was just a matter of time until we caught up with what was going on elsewhere in the country. I do kind of keep up with what's going on in CA, as hubby is from CA and still has most of his family there and I have a brother and three sisters that live in CA I know you guys have been having a rough time out there. Alot of my neices and nephews had gotten laid off from jobs out there. There are still plenty of jobs here in Oklahoma, but they are fast food, low paying jobs and that is about the only thing available for anyone looking. Just this last week one of the local hospitals laid off 60 people, one of the smaller school districts laid off people for next school year and had others go part time other school districts are trying to get people to retire  if they are eligible so they don't have to refill their positions, in an effort to save money. Even though this doesn't sound like it affects huge amounts of people (things like this have been happening all over), it has a trickle down effect when people are not making as much money, they are not spending as much money and not as much sales taxes are coming into the state, so the state income is falling short.

I heard on our local news, yet another school system going to 4 day weeks for the rest of the school year to save money.

Well oldest daughter had their agency meeting today and their mandatory furloughs start July 1 and are to last for at least 1 year, when at that time depending on the state budget,they could become permanent. While the furloughs are temporary for the first year it won't affect how they acrrue sick/vacation leave or their insurance. If at the end of the year, the reduction in hours is made permanent it will affect how they accrue leave and possibly their health insurance. DHS will be closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They will be offering some employees packages to quit, and were told if you are offered one to take it, as they will also be just letting some go with nothing later on.  This is not to be confused with any early retirement packages being offered.

Yep, Penham all school districts are doing this...scary but a sign of the times.  I just love the Obama Administration saying this recession is over.  Not for all the people who are still losing their jobs.  Just wait until your area does their assessments of property and the taxes go down even worse they will have to let more people go.

in India  maximum are unemployed