More than 100 members of the State Employees Association of North Carolina will rally Tuesday against mandatory furloughs.

State officials ordered the furloughs to balance this fiscal year’s budget. Each employee will be required to take 10 hours off, amounting to a half-percent pay cut on a worker’s annual salary.

The amounts will be deducted from May and June paychecks.

The state recently found out it was facing an extra budget shortfall totaling $1 billion. The furloughs are expected to save the state about $65 million.

The rest of the current fiscal year shortfall being made up through about $400 million in federal recovery money, $300 million from the state’s “rainy day” fund and $200 million to come from yet undetermined special funds.

The state is required to balance the state’s current fiscal year budget by June 30.

The group will meet at the legislative building at 10 a.m. Tuesday, along with Dana Cope, SEANC executive director Tony Smith of Morganton, SEANC president April Graham of Garner, SEANC member and DOC employee.

According to a statement from SEANC,

“With a strained economy and the state facing a $3 billion budget shortfall this fiscal year, the demand on public services steadily increases. Unemployment offices are overloaded, the state’s probation system has mounting case loads and state prisons face a critical staffing shortage that could jeopardize public safety.

“In addition, the state’s parks and other cultural resources have seen increased activities as families look for affordable recreation options. Mandatory furloughs over the next two fiscal years will cause public services to suffer in the face of growing demand.”

Employees not covered by the furloughs, such as elected officials like judges, legislators and the Council of State, have also agreed to take pay cut.

Gov. Bev Perdue said she was also taking part in the furloughs.

SEANC, SEIU Local 2008 is the South’s leading state employees’ association with 55,000 members.