State agencies have eliminated seven employee positions, the state personnel director said Tuesday.

The layoff plans were approved according to labor union agreements and personnel rules, said Mike McCrory.

Three layoffs were effective Tuesday; four will be effective July 17.

Two positions were eliminated from the Game and Parks Commission, two from the Department of Agriculture and three from the Historical Society.

The number of layoffs was kept low for now because departments, anticipating budget reductions, found ways to reengineer jobs or did not fill vacant positions, McCrory said.

But more layoffs could follow through the end of the year, depending on the effect of budget reductions or work reorganization, he said.

The 2009 Legislature approved a lean budget with a 1 percent average growth in spending over the next two years. It meant layoffs would be likely at state agencies and the University of Nebraska.

Twenty-eight people could lose jobs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and dozens of vacant positions could go unfilled.

Julie Dake Abel, executive director of the NAPE/AFSCME, Local 61, AFL-CIO, said the union was hoping for a low number of layoffs at state agencies.

She is not expecting additional layoff plans to be submitted in the near future, she said, but more could come in the next six to 12 months.

The union has had serious concerns about layoffs of nearly 250 economic assistance workers that could come when the system for processing welfare applications switches to call centers across the state, she said. It's also concerned about the effect on clients.

Those call centers are expected to begin opening a year from now.

Roger Kuhn, Game and Parks assistant director of parks, said the Legislature approved the elimination of 21 Game and Parks positions, 19 of which were vacant. Those positions included superintendents and groundskeepers at state parks.

Two positions in the sign shop have been eliminated, he said. One employee chose to move to a different position while the other chose to leave, Kuhn said.

Three positions were actually eliminated in the Ag Department, but one person took a different job in the department, said spokeswoman Christin Kamm.

The two layoffs were in the noxious weed program and the poultry and egg division.

The Nebraska Historical Society eliminated two full-time positions, in maintenance and custodial work, said director Michael Smith. Both of those positions are in Lincoln.

The agency also reduced a full-time position to half time in the research and publications area.

One nearly full-time position that was vacant was also eliminated, he said.

"It's not pleasant business, but it had to be done at this time," Smith said.

Reach JoAnne Young at 473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com.