Governor of Maryland Martin O'Malley has proposed that state employees be required to take a two to five day furlough in June in order to save an estimated $34 million. The unpaid leave would affect 67,000 employees and contractors, including transportation workers. The proposal, which is being reviewed by union leaders, would close public offices the Fridays after Christmas and New Year's Day, as well as require additional days of unpaid leave for employees making more than $40,000 per year. The plan does not include health and public safety employees.
See "Furloughs of Two to Five Days Proposed", John Wagner, The Washington Post, December 3, 2008