State employees that make more than $50,000 a year will be required to take mandatory furlough days, unless exempt, in order to address Colorado’s budget shortfall, officials said Tuesday. 

The governor, his cabinet, the lieutenant governor and members of the governor’s office will take furlough days under the same mandates as other state employees, the governor’s office said.

“Colorado is facing one of the most challenging economic crises in our history and public agencies are facing difficult budget constraints,” Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement.

Furlough days are based on an employee’s annual salary:

• $50,000.01 to $70,000 will be required to take one furlough day
• $70,000.01 to $90.000 will be required to take two furlough days
• $90,000.01 to $140,000 will be required to take three furlough days
• $140,000.01 and above will be required to take four furlough days

Employees that are necessary to respond to the pandemic, assist Coloradans in finding jobs and protect public safety and roads, as well as workers earning $50,000 a year or less are exempt, the state said.

“This thoughtful furlough plan helps address the state’s budget shortfall while ensuring that our lower wage workers are not impacted and we can continue to deliver high quality critical services for Coloradans. I know this won’t be easy, but we’re in this together and know that we’ll bounce back even stronger than before,” Polis said.

Most state offices will be closed Nov. 27, the day after Thanksgiving, to minimize the impact of furloughs on state services, the governor’s office said. Furlough days will be distributed throughout the fiscal year.