LSU Chancellor says 1,900 job cuts possible
by David Spunt and Caroline Moses - WAFB Channel 9 (CBS) (excerpt)

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - LSU Chancellor Michael Martin says 1,900 jobs could be cut across the LSU system by next month unless there are "drastic" changes in state funding for higher education.

The cuts could include nearly 500 positions on LSU's main campus in Baton Rouge, Martin told WAFB's David Spunt prior to the start of Thursday afternoon's meeting of the LSU Board of Supervisors. The possible job cuts, which were first announced in February, are looking more "realistic" as legislators enter their final weeks of debating the state budget, Martin said. "We've tried not to go too far down that road because there's no point in creating angst and tension among people until we know what the real story is," Martin said. "But, I don't think you can avoid the reality that the budget cuts of any significance at a place like this will come at the expense of jobs". Martin said the system would try to offer early retirement as an option for some employees. He said furloughs could also be implemented, forcing employees to take time off without pay as a way to save money.

Governor Bobby Jindal's budget proposal includes more than $200 million in cuts to higher education. A new budget must be approved before June 25. There are several proposals being considered by state legislators to restore some of those cuts.

The State Senate has approved legislation to delay a tax break for middle and upper class taxpayers. That plan awaits a house vote. However, a majority of house members have signed a petition indicated their disapproval of the plan. Governor Jindal says he also opposes that plan and will veto the legislation if it is approved.

A plan that does have Jindal's support has been approved by the House of Representatives. It calls for replacing half of the funding cut from higher education by funds from a tax amnesty program. That plan awaits a vote in the senate.

There are several other proposals including a plan by State Treasurer John Kennedy. His plan calls for more aggressively trying to collect billions owed to the state by various entities and using that money to fund higher education.