The LSU System will release its initial plan for cutting more than $50 million from its operating budget today. LSU A&M in Baton Rouge is facing $9 million in cuts after having to slash about $10 million in January. Going into the legislative session two months ago, the University was expecting a cut of about $45 million. Lawmakers managed to reduce cuts to higher education in Louisiana by more than 50 percent. “It could’ve been a lot worse and for that we are grateful,” said Chancellor Michael Martin. But Martin said tough choices still have to be made, and the University’s preliminary budget plan — submitted to the System on Wednesday — will affect most departments on campus. Martin originally agreed to meet with members of the media on Wednesday to discuss the budget, but System officials cancelled the meeting at the last minute — saying they wanted to wait until today to release the information on all System campuses at one time.During a phone interview Wednesday evening, Martin said the University’s budget plan for the 2009-10 fiscal year reduces funding to all academic units by an average of 3 percent and all non-academic units by about 5 percent. Specifics on the cuts won’t be available until each individual college decides where best to make the cuts, Martin said. Academic program eliminations are not likely, he said. “Deans are working diligently to put their cuts into their own context,” Martin said. Funding for University programs like LSU Press and the Rural Life Museum will also see a significant loss of funding, Martin said. The University’s goal for those programs — which are run partially on University funds — is for them to become entirely self sufficient, he said. “This is, in any instance, a phase out,” Martin said. While the programs enhance the learning environment of the University, Martin said they are not essential to what he calls the “academic core,” or the “integrity” of the relationship between students and faculty. Martin said some layoffs are expected, and furloughs — unpaid time off — for civil service and professional staff are being considered. Because faculty members can’t be furloughed without the University first declaring financial exigency — or academic bankruptcy — Martin said he will voluntarily take a furlough as well. He said employees at the lowest salary level will be exempt from furloughs. More specific details on the University’s budget cut plans will be released today and, after the System reviews them, will be finalized within the next couple of weeks, Martin said. —–Contact Kyle Bove at [email protected]