Pawlenty expects his budget cuts to spur layoffs

Gov. Tim Pawlenty expects the unilateral budget cuts he will impose starting in July to cause some government workers to lose their jobs.

Pawlenty says his move to close a $2.7 billion budget hole will lead to layoffs. He couldn't put a number on it when asked Tuesday.

The Republican governor says his administration has managed work force reductions through retirements and natural attrition. He says agency managers "are going to be able to avoid some layoffs."

Word on what will get cut won't come until next week at the earliest and could be on hold until the following week. Pawlenty is using his executive "unallotment" authority after he and the Legislature failed to reach a compromise solution on a balanced budget.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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