The Arizona Department of Environmental Security will require its 9,000 employees to take unpaid days off of work over the rest of the fiscal year in order to help the agency withstand recent budget cuts.

In a Feb. 12 letter, DES Director Linda Blessing informed the department's employees that the furloughs were necessary due to the magnitude of the most recent 2009 budget cuts. The department, which includes Child Protective Services, performs a variety of social services.

The furloughs will apply to nearly all employees, including senior management, according to Blessing. DES senior managers will have nine furlough days.

The announcement followed a temporary elimination of stipends for completing extra duties, the suspension of an employee tuition-reimbursement program, a hiring freeze and restrictions on overtime and travel expenses.

"With very limited exceptions, the furloughs will apply to all staff at DES, including me," Blessing wrote, noting the furloughs will be staggered so the agency does not have to close offices and suspend services to clients of the department.

DES spokeswoman Liz Barker said the decision to implement furloughs was "gut-wrenching" and would impact those using the agency's services.

"Our staff work very hard to help Arizona children and families through these difficult economic times," she said. "This action, while necessary, will mean increased demands on our staff and likely delays in providing services to our customers."

The agency reported that budget cuts have sapped $100 million from the department in fiscal 2009.