BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s top budget writer has announced another round of voluntary buyouts for state employees.Budget director Joe Morrissette says in a memo to agency heads that employees may begin applying for the buyouts on Monday.

Republican Gov. Doug Burgum told state agencies in April to identify spending cuts for the next two-year budget.

Burgum told agency directors to slash budgets 5 percent or 10 percent, depending on the size of the agency. Burgum also called for agencies to identify an additional 3 percent reduction as a cushion against commodity price swings.

Morrissette says voluntary buyouts will count toward an agency’s spending cuts.

Last year, about 160 employees from cabinet-level agencies in state government were approved for voluntary buyouts, at a cost of about $3 million.