After surviving the 2009 legislative session with mere scratches — compared to the deep laceration expected — the University’s budget is awaiting Board of Supervisors approval in August.And although the budget is about $19 million less than last year, Chancellor Michael Martin has said the reduction will not affect the student experience at LSU. “It has always been our commitment to in whatever way possible minimize the effect on students,” Martin said.To keep that commitment, the administration has proposed plans to lay off or require some employees to take time off without pay. Those measures will go into effect if the Board approves the plans during their Aug. 27 meeting.
THE LAYOFF PLANThe University plans to layoff 24 employees and eliminate 176 vacant job positions. But those numbers could grow in the near future. “As everything settles down and people start to implement budget cuts at the lowest level, more layoffs may come,” Martin said. The University will also not offer merit pay increases to employees this year — a measure being enforced throughout the entire LSU System.
THE FURLOUGH PLAN A furlough is required unpaid time off for employees. Their salaries would be reduced by the percentage of time they are furloughed. Professional staff furloughs will begin Sept. 1 and classified staff furloughs will begin August 29 if the plan is approved. “The purpose of the furloughs is to minimize layoffs on the LSU campus,” Martin said. The reduction in work hours and furloughs will be differentiated based on annual salaries, Martin said. Professional employees — non-faculty administrative employees — making less than $30,000 a year will not have to endure a furlough, while professional employees making between $30,000 and $74,999 will see a 2 percent salary reduction (a 35 work hour furlough). Professional staff making between $75,000 and $149,999 will see a 3 percent salary reduction (a 52 work hour furlough), and those making more than $150,000 will see a 4 percent salary reduction (a 69-hour work furlough) as well.Classified employees — civil service employees — making less than $30,000 a year will see no reduction in work hours. Classified employees making between $30,000 and $74,999 will see a 1.5-hour furlough for 20 biweekly pay periods and a 2.5-hour furlough for 2 pay periods. Classified staff making between $75,000 and $149,999 will see a 2.5 hour furlough for 20 biweekly pay periods and a 1-hour furlough for 2 pay periods. “Due to contractual obligations, faculty and other academic staff are urged to participate in the furlough on a voluntary basis,” Martin said in a broadcast e-mail. “For safety and security reasons, we are also requesting from Civil Service an exemption for Police Officers within the LSU Police Department and employees within the Student Health Center whose responsibilities include direct patient care.” The furlough plan would affect more than 1,000 employees.
OTHER BUDGET EFFECTS The University’s proposed plan includes cutting the budget of academic units by an average of 3 percent and the budgets of non-academic units by an average of 5 percent. The cuts aren’t severe enough to force academic colleges and other departments to eliminate programs, but Martin is working with the Faculty and Staff senates to prepare for possible larger cuts down the road if Louisiana and the U.S. continue their economic struggle. Funding for ancillary programs like LSU Press and the LSU Museum of Art will be slashed by about $100,000 each as well.Tuition for the 2009-10 fiscal year was raised by 5 percent, and other fee increases are expected.—-Contact Kyle Bove at [email protected]