To save money, the Hennepin County Board might ask employees to take some time off, unpaid.

Commissioners would like everyone to take 32 hours of this "special leave." It would save about $4.5 million and help offset a projected $20 million cut in state aid to the county.

Board members want to study the logistics of the plan further, before giving final approval. If the study shows the voluntary part of the plan won't achieve enough savings, they may consider a mandatory time off policy.

Currently, department directors are required to take 24 hours of unpaid leave before Dec. 19. Senior-level managers have been asked to voluntarily take a similar amount of furlough time.

And to show that they're with the program, too, the commissioners voted Tuesday to voluntarily return the equivalent of 24 hours of their own pay, after taxes and mandatory withholdings, to the county – about $566 apiece – on or before Dec. 31. Earlier this year, the board voted to freeze their pay for 2010 as well.