The LSU AgCenter, facing a budget deficit of $3 million, could declare financial exigency.
AgCenter Chancellor Bill Richardson outlined the program’s financial troubles at the Board of Supervisors meeting Friday and said he plans to discuss with officials whether he will request exigency status at the next Board meeting in August.
Exigency would allow the AgCenter to lay off contract and tenured employees. Exigency can hurt an institution’s credibility and damage its reputation, especially when recruiting faculty and researchers.
“We just can’t continue to operate in this fashion and maintain core programs,” Richardson said Friday.
Three research stations closed last year because of low funding. The institution has endured a 13 percent funding cut over the past three fiscal years.
Richardson said officials can’t raise tuition to fill budget holes since the AgCenter doesn’t enroll students.
The AgCenter last declared exigency in 2006 following years of budget cuts, according to a 2006 news release.
 
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Contact Steven Powell at [email protected]