ELYRIA — The Lorain County commissioners voted this morning to approve a 2011 budget that cuts 5 percent from salary and retirement accounts across most of county government.

It’s a move that could lead to layoffs in various departments, including the Sheriff’s Office, that have already shed more than 100 employees from layoffs and attrition over the past two years.

But the commissioners also offered the chance for the various departments to avoid the cuts — if their employees begin working eight hour days and taking an unpaid lunch. The commissioners have been imposing that requirement on their workers over the past year.

In general, county workers work seven hours a day and receive a paid one-hour lunch, the commissioners said.

Despite the cuts the commissioners imposed, the county’s estimated 2011 budget will be about $48.86 million, compared to about $47.4 in 2010. It’s an increase in expenses of around $1.6 million.

After approving next year’s budget, the commissioners held a public hearing on the possibility of increasing the county’s sales tax to help alleviate the county’s budget woes.

The hearing focused mostly on public transit issues, but Commissioner Ted Kalo said he hopes another meeting set for 6 p.m. tonight will focus more on other county services.

Read Thursday’s Chronicle for more on this story.