No Deal Means Pink Slips Are On The Way

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Thousands of state employees in Washington state are starting to receive notice that they may be temporarily laid off if a new state budget isn't adopted by early next week.

The Office of Financial Management has estimated that more than 26,000 employees will receive furlough notices, with the vast majority receiving notice by email on Tuesday. The notices state that employees may not perform any work during the furlough, and will not receive any pay for any days that they are not at work. Some letters will be sent by mail last Friday to employees who are currently on leave.

Officials from the governor's budget office have already released a contingency plan on what state offices may have to close completely if a two-year state operating budget isn't signed into law before midnight June 30, when the current two-year budget ends.