By BRAD GASKINS / Staff Writer

Shelby County residents who work for Jefferson County may be crossing their fingers this morning.

Jefferson County began notifying county employees of layoffs Thursday, and will continue to do so today, according to the Jefferson County Human Resources Department.

So far, 546 layoffs notices have been prepared, the human resources office said Friday morning.

The layoffs are an effort to save some $12 million from the Jefferson County budget through the end of the 2011 fiscal year.