The start of the fiscal year next week means the start of a two-day-per-month furlough plan for Kauai County employees.

Twenty-four county furlough days kick in on Thursday and run through June 30, 2011.

Employees affected include members of the Hawaii Government Employees Association, the United Public Workers, contract employees and employees appointed by Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr.

"This has not been an easy decision; however, in order to weather the financial hardships before us, it is a necessary measure for us to take," said Carvalho in a statement.

Departments, divisions and agencies affected in the furlough plan will be the Agency on Elderly Affairs, Civil Defense, all divisions of the Department of Finance, Department of Liquor Control administrative offices, Department of Parks and Recreation administrative offices, the Department of Personnel Services, Department of Public Works administrative offices, the Housing Agency, the Office of the County Attorney, the Office of Economic Development, the mayor’s office, the Planning Department and Transportation Agency administrative offices.

A staggered furlough plan to lessen the impact on services will be implemented for Department of Liquor Control investigators, Wailua Golf Course and beach park maintenance crews, Department of Public Works Building Division inspection staff, Kekaha Landfill, residential refuse pickup, transfer stations, waste-water treatment facilities, transfer facilities, fire stations and lifeguard towers. Furlough days will also be staggered for the Kauai Police Department 911 dispatch, cellblock, Investigative Services Bureau and Patrol Services Bureau and for the Prosecuting Attorney.

"The implementation of the furlough program will require an adjustment on everyone’s part," said Kauai County public information officer Mary Daubert. "If you need to visit a county office, please check the furlough calendar to make sure the office will be open."

The county scheduled one furlough day per pay period and took into consideration state administrative office furlough days when developing the plan.