The last day on the job for 36 managers and 14 rank-and-file workers will be Friday. Employees will receive up to 10 days of paid leave to be used immediately before the official Oct. 8 furlough date, said Christian Soura, secretary of the Office of Administration. "The continued decline in state revenues and reduced funding from the federal government left us with no other options," Soura said.

This year's $28 billion budget relied on Pennsylvania receiving $850 million as part of a six-month extension of federal stimulus aid to states and schools, but the state received just $600 million. Gov. Ed Rendell has also called for a 1.9-percent cut across the board, a reduction in state education funding and a tax on natural gas drilling to make up the difference.

Rendell has said that more state employees than anticipated choosing to retire, and the state's freeze on hiring new workers has helped the layoff figure drop. About 500 vacant positions have been eliminated, officials said today.

Here's how the layoffs will break down:
-- 19 from the state Department of Corrections
-- 15 from the state Department of Health
-- 4 from the state Department of Agriculture
-- 4 from the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
-- 3 from the Office of Inspector General
-- 3 from the Environmental Hearing Board (effective Sept. 3)
-- 1 from the state Department of Education
-- 1 from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency

Related topics: ed rendell, layoffs, pennsylvania budget