Across the state, employees reacted with trepidation and resignation to the cutbacks in jobs and services that Gov. Timothy M. Kaine rolled out yesterday.

Many employees have been identified for layoffs while others are waiting to find out where the ax will fall. The news comes as families worry about their college and retirement savings amid the economic turmoil.

Several state workers interviewed yesterday in Capitol Square were nervous about the cutbacks and had strong opinions -- but not with their names attached.

"The mood is pretty grim," one said, "but it's happened before."

"It's a sign of the times," another said. "I expect in a year it will pass."

Susan Trulove, who works at the Virginia Department of Education, said "we've all been very anxious. I went right to the Web site and pulled up the plan as soon as it was released."

The education department is slated to lose 11 positions. As of yesterday, the positions had not been identified but likely will be in the next few days, said Charles Pyle, a spokesman for the department. Patricia I. Wright, the state's superintendent of public instruction who assumed the role this month, met with top staff yesterday.

Ernestine Robinson, who works at the Department of Juvenile Justice, said, "Everybody's been kind of quiet. We're not sure how we are being affected."

Kaine has proposed cutting 17 employees and reducing the department's budget by $10.2 million, mostly by closing several juvenile facilities.

Sixty-one classified employees with health and human resources agencies are being let go, including 32 in mental health, 17 in the health department. The Department of Social Services is eliminating 80 jobs, about half of which are vacant. The reductions include nine classified jobs in the central office.

"We have not notified affected employees yet, because our first service to these individuals is to try and find comparable positions for them within the agency and state government," said social services spokeswoman Marianne S. McGhee.

. . .

"We're working hard now to do this. We expect to notify employees by the end of the month -- hopefully, with news that an alternative employment option has been found, although we cannot guarantee this."

The health and human resources agencies are also eliminating dozens of other vacant classified jobs and positions filled by hourly and contract employees.

At the health department, a total of 129 classified positions are being eliminated, with more than 100 of those vacant. In addition, 65 to 70 hourly and contract positions are being considered for elimination, said health department spokesman Phillip Giaramita.

. . .

Eight of the health department layoffs are in the Office of Family Health Services, an agency that in recent years has put greater emphasis on preventing chronic diseases such as cancer, hypertension and diabetes. Grant-funded programs in teen-pregnancy prevention, cancer and disabilities are each losing two employees.

The Science Museum of Virginia shut its doors one day a week in 2001 because of budget woes, and now it has to do it again.

Officials at the Richmond museum are considering which day to close under a directive from Kaine.

The museum's satellites -- the Danville Science Center and the Virginia Aviation Museum -- will also close one day a week, according to Nancy Tait, museum spokeswoman. Four staff positions will also be cut; Tait said the positions are currently vacant.

At Virginia Commonwealth University, Dan Ream, president of the faculty senate, summed up reaction there as "disappointed but not shocked." Ream said faculty members weren't surprised that their salary increases will be deferred and prefer that option to cuts in student financial aid.

VCU will see a reduction of $10.13 million and seven layoffs under the plan announced yesterday.

"I hope we'll find a way not to have those layoffs," said VCU's rector, Thomas Rosenthal, adding that might be possible now that the university knows what budget figure it is working with.

The University of Virginia will see a cut of $10.6 million, or 7 percent, in its general fund budget.

"At least we had some warning," said Leonard W. Sandridge, U.Va.'s executive vice president and chief operating officer.

But with all the economic turbulence, Sandridge said, he is braced for further cuts. The Charlottesville campus would see no layoffs under yesterday's announcement, but Sandridge said positions will be held vacant to accommodate the budget cuts.

Five people lost jobs at the state Department of Environmental Quality, and 30 others are either retiring or moving to different positions because their jobs were eliminated. Twenty-three vacant positions were also cut.

"I think people knew this was serious. . . . From what I can tell, people are just resigned to it" and hope even worse cuts don't come later, DEQ spokesman Bill Hayden said.
Contact Olympia Meola at (804) 649-6812 or omeola@timesdispatch.com.

Contact Tammie Smith at (804) 649-6572 or tlsmith@timesdispatch.com.

Staff writers Karin Kapsidelis, Rex Springston and Tyler Whitley contributed to this report.