The head of the Vermont state college system says if the schools are required to make budget cuts in line with those suggested by Gov. Peter Shumlin, it will mean cuts in personnel.
Shumlin has directed department heads to submit their plans for cutting four percent from their current budgets. No decisions on budget cuts have yet been made.
State Colleges Chancellor Tim Donovan says his office has told the Governor downsizing the budget would mean a $1 million reduction that would require personnel cuts.
“While I don’t think it would all be done in jobs, we don’t have enough cushion in our budget at this point to absorb a million dollar cut in a budget year that’s already underway without it affecting people,” says Donovan. “It’s a permanent change. It’s not just a one-time thing.”
State funding represents 18 percent of the college systems budget. The remainder comes from tuition.
Donovan says state support increased just one half of one percent from the last budget year, so a four percent cut would be significant.
The Governor is expected to review the budget options submitted to him and present a proposal to lawmakers later this month.
