KBIA Local
(2010-01-05)
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COLUMBIA, MO
(KBIA) -
Despite a reduction in state funding, University of Missouri leaders say the option of furloughs is still off the table for now. KBIA's Maureen McCollum reports.
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Many universities across the country are requiring employees to take unpaid days off to make up for budget shortfalls. The University of Illinois is the latest to enforce furloughs. University of Illinois President Stanley Ikenberry announced today (Tuesday) that faculty and staff would each take four unpaid days within the next five months and administrators would take ten days. At a faculty forum last month, UM System President Gary Forsee said he's still exploring other measures that won't affect employees' pay.
"We have not had to have further discussions about furloughs or about salary reductions."
A UM System spokesperson said today that Forsee still isn't considering furloughs. Last year, Forsee received permission from the Board of Curators to enforce furloughs if necessary. Furloughs were never implemented. The furlough authority expired in July, and Forsee has yet to ask the Curators for the option again. Missouri's higher education budget will be cut 5% across the board next fiscal year. That's about $42 million for the UM System. A spokesperson from Governor Jay Nixon's office says university furlough decisions will be made by university leaders and not state government.
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