More than 300 public-sector jobs in Nassau County are on the chopping block, but some of them may now be saved after the CSEA union reached an 11th-hour deal to offer workers a separation incentive.

As part of the deal, union members will be offered $1,000 for each year worked in hopes that the highest-paid workers will take the money and save jobs.

As News 12 Long Island reported last night, the Legislature voted to let County Executive Ed Mangano (R-Nassau) lay off hundreds of county workers.

For weeks, Mangano has been saying that if the unions couldn't come up with millions in concessions and savings, he'd have no choice but to lay off workers since raising taxes is not an option.

"If someone leaves from the top, it will save one-and-a-half jobs at the bottom," Mangano says.

Mangano is seeking additional $75 million in savings by Feb. 1.

However, CSEA President Jerry Laricchuita says he's not sure how many of his members will take the deal, especially so close to the holiday.

In the meantime, the union has been collecting Christmas gifts to help their members who will soon be out of a job. Mangano's deadline for Nassau unions passes with no dealNIFA approves Nassau's 2012 budget Exec. Mangano demands union concessions, threatens layoffs