HARRISBURG -- The layoff picture with state government isn't quite as bad as announced a week ago.

Instead of Gov. Ed Rendell's administration laying off 319 workers, as officials had said then, there will be 48 fewer people laid off.

Because some people who were going to lose their jobs had "bumping'' rights based on seniority, they could take another job from someone who didn't have as much seniority. This led to more people either deciding to retire, or quitting to take jobs outside state government, or taking jobs paid for with federal funds rather than state funds, said Rendell aide Mia Devane.

Of the 271 workers being laid off, the largest number, 96, is coming from the Department of Environmental Protection, with the second highest number, 85, from the Historical and Museum Commission. Twenty-five layoffs are in the Department of Public Welfare, and 23 are in executive offices.

Mr. Rendell has said he tried to limit the layoffs as much as possible, but with the state ending the last fiscal year with a $3.2 billion budget deficit, some trims couldn't be avoided. Spending reductions were also needed to meet the bottom line of $27.8 billion for the current, 2009-10 budget.

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