Florida A&M University President James Ammons and Chief Financial Officer Teresa Hardee on Wednesday braced trustees for layoffs in the wake of an anticipated reduction in state aid. "We're at a point now that we are endangering our significant programs," Ammons said. "I think letting people go will be unavoidable. This is the most difficult fiscal situation we face."
Ammons has charged university vice presidents with trying to determine what areas can and should be cut in order for the university to run "effectively and efficiently" with "fewer resources."
FAMU is anticipating a budget cut of $9 million to $13 million for the coming school year, Ammons said, and this comes on the heels of three straight years of reductions in state revenue support.
Hardee raised the possibility of as many as 247 jobs being eliminated out of a work force of 3,200.
Florida State approved a three-year budget last June that called for the elimination of more than 60 positions and the merger of several departments.
FAMU administrators hope to launch a two-year financial plan for the coming fiscal year, which starts in July.
