U of I offering furloughs to help tighten budget

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Employees at the University of Idaho will have the option to take as many as five days of voluntary furlough as the university works to reduce its current budget by $1 million, following a request from Gov. Brad Little.

In late October, the governor instructed all state agencies to trim their budgets for the current fiscal year by 1 percent, and to identify another 2 percent base reduction for the following year.

The reduction to UI’s budget follows $14 million in cuts already in place, with more on the way, as the university’s deficit is projected to grow to $22 million by fiscal year 2022.

In a memo sent out to UI faculty and staff Wednesday, President Scott Green said the idea for offering voluntary furloughs surfaced from feedback the university received after a Nov. 7 budget forum.

Eligible employees can take furlough for as many as five days through late spring.

Late last month Green outlined other possible budget cuts the university will consider as tuition revenue is expected to decline over the next two years, resulting in the need for $8 million of additional cuts.

Those include the elimination of academic programs, centralizing services across the university, organizational restructuring and outsourcing or contracting out some services, as well as possible layoffs, not renewing contracts, salary reductions and not filling vacant positions. (Lewiston Tribune)

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