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Wayne County's Ficano To Lay Off 90 Workers

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - Embattled Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano has announced the layoffs of 90 workers as part of cost-cutting efforts amid a $160 million budget deficit.

Ficano's office says the layoffs will save at least $6 million over the next 20 months. He says cuts in state grants for health and human services will force cuts of unionized employees in that department. They will be given a two-week notice.

The cuts come while the FBI investigates county finances. Investigators have subpoenaed records and are looking into a $200,000 severance deal involving a former development director Turkia Mullin, who left to take a job at Detroit Metro Airport. Ficano has said Mullin shouldn't have received the money because the severance contract was not executed.  Mullin returned the money last year after criticism, but has since been let go from the airport job.

Last month, Ficano's request to extend a contract with an outside law firm dealing with federal subpoenas was turned down by county commissioners.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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