Almost 1,400 apply for Md. buyout

Almost 1,400 Maryland state employees have applied for a voluntary buyout program, according to Gov. Martin O'Malley's office, reports John Wagner on the Maryland Politics blog.

O'Malley invited state workers last month to participate in the "voluntary separation program" as part of a strategy to whittle down a looming budget shortfall of about $1.3 billion. As of last week's deadline, 1,395 employees had filed an application. Workers have until the end of the week to change their minds.

The number of employees filing is shy of a goal of 1,500 floated by O'Malley. But the response has the potential to yield "significant savings … while helping to avoid massive layoffs," said O'Malley spokesman Shaun Adamec.

Adamec estimated that the program could save about $40 million next year.

Read more about the voluntary buyout program offered to Maryland state employees on the Maryland Politics blog.