Illinois secretary of state trimming staff

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois secretary of state's office is offering incentives designed to convince more than 300 employees to leave their jobs by year end.

Letters to be sent to all workers with 30 years or more on the job say a $5,000 lump sum will be paid to anyone who agrees to quit by Jan. 1.

In the letter, officials say the agency is able to offer the incentive because of salary savings resulting from employees who will retire through the program.

The letters went out to 318 of the 3,650 people who work in the secretary of state's office.

Secretary of State Jesse White spokesman Dave Druker says the office does not have a savings target it wants to reach. He added officials also have not decided how many jobs might be left unfilled.

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Information from: The State Journal-Register, http://www.sj-r.com