To view a copy of the LSU Budget Response, click here.
About 2,000 LSU System employees may lose their jobs if the budget cuts higher education faces next year are as drastic as Gov. Bobby Jindal has projected.Larger class sizes and fewer course offerings — among other bleak scenarios — are also possible. The LSU System responded Wednesday to the Division of Administration’s “budget reduction exercise,” in which the DOA told System officials to outline a plan as if cuts in state funding occurred between about 18 and 30 percent next year. University administrators have met with faculty to develop plans during the past two weeks. While the actual amount of the cut won’t be known until later this spring, officials are predicting dramatic changes to the System’s 11 institutions on any budget cut level. “It would be a blow not only to all of us who are associated with the campus but a major loss to the state, since LSU provides such a significant contribution to the state and regional economic development,” said John Lombardi, LSU System president, in an e-mail to The Daily Reveille. “We would also see many programs of high quality seriously compromised, and some might have to be eliminated altogether.” Including the now permanent $10.3 million in mid-year budget cuts, LSU’s main campus in Baton Rouge would see a total budget reduction of about $71.9 million for the fiscal year beginning July 1 if state funds were cut by 30 percent, said Bob Kuhn, associate vice chancellor of Budget and Planning. The LSU System as a whole would see about $208.8 million in cuts under a 30 percent reduction. Jindal, whose administration ordered a $55 million mid-year reduction for higher education, told colleges to prepare for possible cuts between $212 million and $382 million next year. The Jindal administration is predicting a $2 billion shortfall for the 2009-2010 fiscal year beginning July 1. “The Governor and the Legislature have been strong in their support of higher education, and we know that they will find these consequences outlined in the budget reduction scenario unacceptable,” Lombardi said. “Nonetheless, we were required to demonstrate how such reductions would impact our institutions, and that is what the document provides.”The document does not list in what specific departments layoffs would occur because the document presents a “what if” scenario, said Chancellor Michael Martin. Until the state budget is finalized by the Legislature, no decisions will be made regarding where, or how many, layoffs will occur. About 650 System faculty and more than 1,250 support employees could be terminated or laid off under budget cuts, Lombardi said. Nearly 78 percent of the University’s operating budget is associated with payroll and employee benefits. Lombardi said if the budget cuts are put into effect, the results could be damaging. “[The LSU System] will no longer be capable of competing among America’s significant public university systems, its flagship will lose its place in the competition among American flagship institutions, and its campuses and medical enterprises will find themselves dramatically behind the rest of the South, let alone more prosperous and economically vibrant areas of the country,” Lombardi said.Martin said students and faculty need to know the document is only a projection.”We went through an exercise to say, ‘Under the gloomiest of scenarios, are there ways we believe we can retain the core integrity of this university?'” Martin said. “The answer to that is probably — but not certainly.” Martin said he hopes President Obama’s stimulus package is passed in the Senate. The stimulus package could relieve some of the stress on higher education in Louisiana.—-Contact Kyle Bove at [email protected]