Gov. Linda Lingle's plan to lay off almost 1,200 state workers includes cutting staff at the Agriculture Department so severely that a key state lawmaker contended yesterday that it will disrupt the import and export of food products.

The list of 1,194 state jobs proposed for elimination by Lingle was released by House Finance Chairman Marcus Oshiro, D-39th (Wahiawa) yesterday. Lingle proposed the layoffs, effective Nov. 13, to help balance the state budget.

The layoff list — which does not name individuals but only their positions — includes 366 jobs at the Department of Human Services, 312 at the Health Department and 129 at the Department of Accounting and General Services.

The individuals holding those jobs were handed their pink slips last week.

Of all the state agencies, the Agriculture Department appears to be the most severely cut in terms of the percentage of employees lost.

The list shows 118 Agriculture Department positions will be cut. The Legislature last spring approved an ag general fund budget that includes 216 positions. That was already 61 fewer than the department had last year.

"It's devastating," said state Rep. Clifton Tsuji, D-3rd (S. Hilo, Puna), chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. "It's butchering the agriculture industry and the economy of Hawai'i."

State agriculture director Sandra Lee Kunimoto could not be reached for comment late yesterday.

State budget director Georgina Kawamura said yesterday that if the state does lay off 1,200 workers, cuts in service are to be expected.

"There's potentially 1,200 employees from state government that would be eliminated from the service they provide now," Kawamura said. "Yes, public services will not be the same. I don't think it's reasonable to expect we can continue to do the same, because we don't have the same money."

The state is facing an estimated $786 million budget deficit through June 2011. Lingle has sought to save $688 million through labor cuts.

The layoffs may still be avoided. Both administration and union officials said they're hopeful that negotiations could net savings, through furloughs and other means, that could stave off job losses.

PLANT INSPECTORS

At the Agriculture Department, approximately 50 of the positions slated for abolishment are classified as plant quarantine inspectors. About nine others are agricultural commodities marketing specialists.

Tsuji said he's most worried about the Quality Assurance and Plant Industry divisions.

The primary duty of Quality Assurance Division inspectors is to inspect and certify produce, eggs, coffee beans, seafood, flowers, foliage and other agricultural commodities that go to the Mainland and Japan, as well as those items that are sold here.

The Plant Industry Division is described on the Agriculture Department's Web site as "the state's 'first line of defense' in keeping pests out of the islands.' " Among its main duties is inspection of imports, from produce to seafood, at the state's harbors and airports.

The Big Island alone could see the elimination of four of five export inspectors and 13 of 14 import inspectors, Tsuji said.

The loss of export inspectors is of particular concern to those who farm easily perishable items such as papaya, green coffee beans and cut flowers for export to the Mainland and Japan, Tsuji said.

PERISHABLES AT RISK

On the import side, Tsuji said, he's already heard from a major produce importer who warned that a dramatic slowdown in the time it takes to have items inspected could spell the end of the import of certain types of lettuce or other food products that perish easily.

"If they don't have the inspectors, they might have to cease importing these items," Tsuji said.

Tsuji said he and Rep. Jerry Chang, D-2nd (S. Hilo), sat down to discuss their concerns with the governor a week ago. Lingle promised to talk to Kunimoto, the head of the Agriculture Department, about the situation, he said.

Oshiro, the House finance chairman, criticized the Lingle administration for being slow to provide information about the repercussions of the layoffs.

Oshiro said he and Senate Ways & Means chairwoman Donna Mercado Kim, D-14th (Halawa, Moanalua, Kamehameha Heights) said they asked repeatedly for the list but didn't get it until Thursday.

"They need to be more forthcoming and more transparent in sharing that information with the Legislature and the general public," Oshiro said. "People deserve to know the impact and consequences of these layoffs."