 It's been anticipated for months that the Pike Fiscal Court's budget issues will cost the jobs of some county employees. At today's special meeting, it was revealed that more than two dozen jobs could be on the chopping block as a result of the anticipated $5.7 million budget shortfall. Deputy Judge Executive Brian Morris said the county's magistrates discussed in closed session a list of 20 to 25 employees that could be laid off as part of the ongoing cost-cutting process. You're at a deficit here at the county and me and John Duggan, the judge, has worked on it the last couple of weeks. We met in the executive session and we discussed 20 to 25 Pacific names and moving forward we probably need to set up another work session to pinpoint the personnel and discuss moving forward into the budget. Judge Executive Bill Deskins said even more cuts are likely, and included in those could be cuts to the magistrates' perks, including their secretaries, who were included on that list of 20 to 25 employees who could lose their jobs. Deskins said his granddaughter, who works in his office, was also included on that list. Some from the solid waste and some is from the...my office will be left. My granddaughter will be gone and the one that answers the phones in my office will be the only one we'll answer herself and Jenny and, of course, John Duggan and Deputy Judge. That's all will be in my office. We have to have tightened down on everything. It's just an unreal situation and I've run into so much stuff through two terms and I have to do what I have to do. The budget was only briefly discussed during today's meeting and another special meeting was scheduled for May 23rd at 10 a.m. where the budget is expected to be an issue for discussion. Reporting in Pikeville for EKB News, I'm Chris Anderson.