SPRINGFIELD - An undisclosed number of workers in the state comptroller's office are being forced to take five days of unpaid leave as part of the latest budget-cutting move in state government.

On Friday, Comptroller Dan Hynes became the latest statewide officer to impose furlough days on employees he controls.

The move, affecting workers with higher pay in his office, is part of an overall $2.8 million belt-tightening effort under way in Hynes' office. A similar plan was put in place during the last fiscal year.

Hynes' move comes as Gov. Pat Quinn is attempting to move forward on his own furlough plan, which could affect thousands more workers in agencies he controls. Other statewide officers are mulling their options.

Documents issued Friday show that Quinn's effort - first announced last spring - still remains in the formative stages. For example, individual state agencies have been ordered to develop lists of which employees will be excluded from taking Quinn's proposed 12 furlough days.

The Quinn administration is considering not furloughing employees of facilities that operate around the clock, such as prisons and developmental centers. Workers who are paid with federal funds also may be exempted from the move.

In a letter to state employees Friday, Quinn said he wants five of the required 12 days to be taken before Jan. 1.

Along with trying to determine who is eligible, the administration also must negotiate with labor unions that represent tens of thousands of state employees.

Details about how many workers will be affected were unavailable Monday.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union says furloughs won't result in significant, long-term savings to the cash-strapped state.

AFSCME spokesman Anders Lindall said the union also believes it would be wrong to cut back on state government at a time when the national recession is driving up demand for services.

At the Illinois Secretary of State's office, an estimated 4,500 workers may be able to avoid furloughs. Secretary of State Jesse White has pushed to save money by curtailing most hiring, cutting back on travel and reducing other costs.

State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias also hopes to avoid imposing furloughs in the current fiscal year, said spokesman Scott Burnham.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan, already working with 48 fewer employees in her office, is attempting to avert furloughs through other means.

A spokeswoman emphasized that, through the successful settlement of lawsuits, the office can actually help generate money for the state.

"We're looking at all cost-cutting measures," said Madigan spokeswoman Robyn Zeigler.