Louisiana sheriffs say they're out of money - Layoffs begin today

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http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N21499242.htm

BELLE CHASSE, La., Sept 21 (Reuters) - Sheriffs of two southeast Louisiana parishes said on Wednesday that they had run out of money to pay their employees and one said he would have to lay off his employees by the end of the day.

Sheriff Jiff Hingle of Plaquemines Parish said he would have to lay off his 267 employees by 5 p.m. because he had no more money to pay them. He angrily accused the state of sitting on millions of dollars of disaster-relief aid.

"How can I work somebody when I can't pay them?" Hingle told Reuters in an interview in his office. "It doesn't take that long to type up a check."

Sheriff Jack Stephens of neighboring St. Bernard Parish said he had run out of money as well, though his officers would continue working.