The Jacksonville Aviation Authority has begun laying off employees to cut expenses at a time of slumping air travel.

Authority spokesman Michael Stewart confirmed Wednesday the agency has laid off workers, but he would not say how many have been affected.

Stewart said the authority does not have a "hard and fast number" for how many layoffs will occur. He said the authority will not disclose that number even after the layoffs have taken place.

Donald Green, president of the Fraternal Order of Police lodge representing police at the authority, said Wednesday morning he had heard of seven layoffs since Friday. The layoffs didn't affect the police force. Green said he has heard of employees with 25 to 30 years of service with the authority losing their jobs.

At a Monday board meeting, the authority's staff outlined a number of areas for spending cuts and showed a target of reducing salary and benefits by about $810,000, which would be about 4 percent of the agency's $18.8 million budget for salary and benefits. The presentation to the board did not specify a number of layoffs or what areas would be affected.

"There are tough decisions in business that nobody wants to have to make, but that are needed to keep the business healthy," Stewart said.