HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Turnpike began laying off employees Thursday after only 20 workers accepted voluntary buyout offers designed to offset falling traffic numbers and declining toll revenues.

Turnpike CEO Joe Brimmeier said his goal is to reduce payroll expenses by 7 to 10 percent, so more people will be let go in the coming weeks.

"This, unfortunately, cannot be a one-day undertaking because we have almost 2,300 employees spread, literally, across the entire commonwealth," Brimmeier said in a news release.

He called the layoffs a difficult and uncomfortable process.

"The turnpike is not immune to financial instabilities that affect the business sector," Brimmeier said. "To continue to operate responsibly, we have to respond to economic conditions in the same manner as the private sector."

Workers had until Monday to decide whether to sign up for a "voluntary departure program" that offered two weeks of pay for each five years of service, to a maximum of eight weeks.

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania lawmakers, top executive branch officials and state judges are in line for 2.8 percent cost-of-living raises as the state grapples with a worsening budget picture.The increases are tied to the regional consumer price index and boost the pay of more than 2,000 government officials annually, although Gov. Ed Rendell said Thursday he will consider suspending increases for his nonunion appointees and top staff.