This year's yet-to-be-solved state budget puzzle inspired nearly 3,000 state workers to march at the state Capitol on Thursday.

The budget for the 2003-04 fiscal year, which began Wednesday, includes a $230 million hole that Gov. Jennifer Granholm is working with union leaders to plug.

Granholm's administration proposed cutting work weeks from 40 hours to 37.5, giving unpaid leaves or possibly laying off more than 2,000 of the state's more than 55,000 workers.

Granholm said she continues to thank state employees for addressing the budget situations and plans to continue negotiations.

"Asking state employees to defer their pay was among the most difficult decisions this administration has had to make," Granholm said in a written statement. "Unfortunately, given the dire budget crisis this administration inherited, this was a necessary step."

State workers complained they have seen workloads become unmanageable, pay losses to new inflation, rising insurance costs and steady staffing reductions.

Workers marching Thursday said there are other options to solving the budget problem, such as cutting from other areas or shifting money from over-budgeted programs.

An example of extra money in the budget is Attorney General Mike Cox's department giving over $200,000 in bonuses, said Sandy Parker, vice president of UAW Local 6000, a union representing 17,500 state workers.

Parker, who joined workers from about five other unions Thursday, said state workers have had their pay cut by too much, and new solutions need to be found. More marches will be held throughout the state, she said.

"There is a lot of money out there that can be brought back into the budget," Parker said.