The state of Michigan is temporarily laying off at least 2,900 of its employees across various departments to help save money during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The temporary layoffs were issued to employees across state government “who are working at less than their typical full capacity due to their work being shifted to the home,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer spokesperson Tiffany Brown said.

Laid-off employees will retain their health insurance and other benefits and will be automatically enrolled into the unemployment process, officials said. Affected employees will miss 10 consecutive days of work, and the state will reassess whether further days are necessary at that time.

The move will save the state about $5 million, Brown said.

“This is a difficult decision, but it is the right thing to do to ensure we can continue providing critical services to the people of Michigan,” she said.

Those layoffs include more than 900 Michigan Department of State employees, or 60 percent of total staff, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced Wednesday. The layoffs apply to all staff who are not able to work full time under the stay-at-home order, the majority of whom typically work in Secretary of State branch offices.

“This is an extremely challenging time for our state, our state government, and our department,” Benson said in a statement. “This decision was not easy, but is necessary to responsibly steward taxpayer funds at this time.”

On Tuesday, the Michigan Attorney General’s office issued temporary layoff notices to more than 100 people, about 25 percent of the department’s workforce.

And on Monday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced she’d be foregoing 10 percent of her pay and asked senior staff to take a 5 percent pay cut during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The disease and measures taken to curb its spread have resulted in a global economic slowdown, and many businesses in various sectors have temporarily laid off employees during the pandemic.

Michigan’s budget isn’t immune to the strain.

The latest estimates from the Michigan Department of Treasury show the state stands to lose between $1 billion and $3 billion in revenue the current fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, and between $1 and $4 billion in fiscal year 2021.

With most of the state subject to a stay-at-home order, people are spending less money, and sales tax revenue is way down. And with more than a quarter of the state’s workforce filing for unemployment, income tax revenue is tanking, too.

In March, the Senate Fiscal Agency also noted declines in state revenue from gas tax (down 22.6% from March 2019), diesel tax (down 21.6%) and casino revenue (down 59%).

Related: Michigan set to lose billions in tax revenue as coronavirus hits state budgets nationwide

Lawmakers and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer have a few months left to figure out how to make up the difference. Although the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1, Whitmer and the Republican-led legislature agreed last year to a law requiring lawmakers to get a budget to her desk by July 1 after a tumultuous budget process.

Legislators tasked with overseeing the appropriations process are already looking at ways to address the shortfall.

Senate Appropriations Chair Jim Stamas, R-Midland, recently suggested laying off non-essential state employees in the administration and legislature and shifting some to becoming call takers for unemployment claims instead of hiring on new ones.

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.

Health officials say you should be staying at least six feet away from others and working from home, if possible.

Carry hand sanitizer with you and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, counter tops) and when you go into places like stores.

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