A budget cut will take a state office away from Albert Lea.

Friday, March 22, 2002

A budget cut will take a state office away from Albert Lea.

The Department of Revenue announced Thursday that it would eliminate four offices around the state, including one in the Skyline Mall.

The one-person office, which is in charge of auditing individual sales tax and community outreach, will be closed May 31. The Albert Lea employee will maintain the function working from home, according to the department.

The statewide closures will save $342,000 in rental costs by the end of the biennium, the department estimates.

The department will also terminate its toll-free telephone lines in St. Paul March 31. It will save $308,000 in the remainder of this biennium at the cost of taxpayers who will need to make a long-distance call for inquiries.

The budget cut forces the department to push internal reorganization measures, too.

The department will eliminate 109 full-time staff members by encouraging voluntary unpaid leave. The department will also cancel computer system upgrades, and renegotiate computer contract services.