CU announces $12.9 million in budget cuts

BOULDER (AP) - The University of Colorado plans to eliminate 75 faculty and staff positions at the Boulder campus to help trim $12.9 million from its budget.

CU's Chief Financial Officer Ric Porreca said the cuts could translate into fewer courses for students and bigger class sizes this fall because there will be fewer employees. The Boulder Daily Camera reports that CU plans to eliminate 33 full-time faculty jobs and another 42 full-time staff positions to save an estimated $6.5 million.

"Higher education is a service industry, and there are things that we won't be able to do," Porreca told the newspaper.

He said three employees will be laid off and he credited the small number to a decision last fall to not fill vacant positions.

The budget cuts will go into effect July 1.

The university's system office will also trim $6.2 million from its budget. Those cuts will affect people who work in administrative offices, and include pay cuts of 5 percent for CU President Bruce Benson and his executive staff.

CU system spokesman Ken McConnellogue said Benson "felt like the system administration had to lead by example."

Other budget cuts include almost $700,000 from the information-technology department, meaning officials will take longer to replace computers and other equipment.

Staffers will also be required to take out their own trash to save money on garbage-removal services.