Gov. Linda Lingle said today that the state has reached a tentative agreement with the Hawaii Government Employees Association on a new contract.

"We believe this contract is in the best interest of the state and its employees and we hope the employees will ratify the contract,” the governor said in a statement.

Lingle did not release details of the agreement.

Sources said the contract involves 18 furlough days this fiscal year and 24 furlough days next fiscal year for most state workers.

The HGEA will hold ratification vote on Thursday, Friday and Monday. The union hopes to announce the results on Monday evening.

“It has been the intent of the HGEA and its negotiating team members to reach an agreement with the employers on a furlough plan that our members could review and vote on," Randy Perreira, the HGEA's executive director, said in a statement. "We strongly encourage every HGEA bargaining unit member to take time over the next few days to review the agreement, and vote on this most important issue.”

HGEA is the state's largest public-sector union.

The number of furlough days was a compromise. Lingle initially wanted 36 furlough days a year for this fiscal year and next and then offered 24 furlough days a year for both years. The union at first offered the equivalent of 12 furlough days a year for both years and then proposed 18 furlough days this year and 12 furlough days next year.

The state and the Hawaii State Teachers Association agreed to a new contract that includes 17 furlough days a year for teachers on 10-month schedules and 21 furlough days a year for teachers on year-round schedules.

The University of Hawai'i Professional Assembly last week voted down a contract offer from the university that included a 5 percent pay cut.