At our district here in North Central Louisiana, payroll and benefits are about 85% of budget expenditures.
That's a probably a similar number to many areas.
In a nearby district, the superintendent asked the teachers to take a pay freeze for one year and the amount would be added back in over the remaining years of the contract. Teachers said no - so ~25 employees were laid off - administrators, teachers, other staff.
There's a good chance they won't be returning any time soon.