UW Starts Work On Possible Budget Cuts

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) — Responding to requests from a legislative committee and Gov. Matt Mead, the University of Wyoming has started working on three possible budget-cutting scenarios.

The Legislature's Joint Appropriations Committee has asked all state agencies to submit plans to reduce their state-funded budgets by 5 and 8 percent. The governor has separately requested a 2 percent budget-reduction plan.

A 2 percent cut would reduce state general fund appropriations to UW by $3.7 million a year starting in July 2012. A 5 percent cut would mean a $9.2 million annual reduction, and an 8 percent cut would total $14.7 million per year.

The UW Board of Trustees on Friday directed President Tom Buchanan to comply with the requests.

The Legislature will determine UW's budget during its budget session next year.