BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) – A general-fund deficit is forcing the layoffs of almost one-fourth of the Crow Tribe's labor force.

The tribe's executive branch announced Friday it will send layoff notices to 200 of its 850 employees Tuesday. After the layoffs, the tribe will employ about 650 people, with 450 employees in federally funded jobs and 200 paid by the general fund.

The Billings Gazette (http://bit.ly/Ms4Fx ) reports the tribe laid off 75 people in June, and it's unclear which jobs will be eliminated in the latest round of cuts.

Officials blamed the layoffs on revenue shortfalls and growing payroll expenses. Negotiations between Chairman Cedric Black Eagle and the Crow Legislature over a $5.6 million loan to forestall the layoffs failed Friday.

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Information from: Billings Gazette, http://www.billingsgazette.com