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BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — A total of 547 Jefferson County employees were placed on administrative leave without pay, according to county figures.

The layoffs are effective Saturday.

Many county employees received the news throughout today and some were seen leaving the building in tears while others carried boxed of belongings.

County officials said they hoped to call some of the workers back at the start of the 2012 fiscal year, Oct 1. However, many employees will not be called back to work, since commissioners have said they will continue to reduce the size of government and slice the annual budget by $73 million on top of the $30 million in cuts already instituted.

Commissioners said they did what they could to avoid the layoffs by first chopping the budget, then reducing the workweek and finally seeking replacement revenue from the Alabama Legislature.

The state Supreme Court in March struck down a county occupational tax and business license fee that together raised $74 million a year. Commissioners were counting on state lawmakers to pass a limited home rule bill to allow the commission to raise enough revenue to avert the layoffs and other reduced services. When that did not happen, announced the deep cuts.

Cooper Green Mercy Hospital and the environmental services department will not face layoffs. Cooper Green receives its funding from the indigent care fund and the environmental services department is funded by sewer revenues.

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