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As state leaders face the possibility of laying off hundreds, and potentially thousands, of public employees, lawmakers have convened a six-member bipartisan committee to look at the options of unpaid furloughs, pay cuts and other alternatives.

Legislative leaders formed the group as various committees have been trying to piecemeal together a 15 percent across-the-board budget cut.

"Everyone came with different approaches with state personnel, and we want a well-rounded approach," said Senate Majority Leader Sheldon Killpack, R-Syracuse.

"We've tasked some senators and representatives to at least bring ideas on how to deal with some of those state employees," Killpack said. "We want them to come up with a list of items to consider as a Legislature."

That list could include furloughing "non-essential" personnel, which could save $2.7 million per day, or "essential" personnel, saving $800,000 a day. The group also could look at cutting instruction or training days for public school teachers, which would save millions, and assess the effects of cutting salaries or benefits for employees.

Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, says that he prefers a furlough to other options, but wants to assess the committee's ideas.

"I'd say that a furlough seems to make a lot of sense in case things turned around quicker rather than slower," he said. "I think it's good to give the executive branch some latitude."