Georgia State prepares for furloughs

By Laura Diamond

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The president of Georgia State University asked all deans and vice presidents to voluntarily join him in taking 12 furlough days between now and the end of June 2010.

President Mark Becker sent an e-mail to all staff and faculty members Monday morning explaining the request.

“All of us will need to make sacrifices in the year ahead, and the 12 furlough days to be taken by the senior leadership is greater than what will be required of other GSU employees under the plans submitted,” Becker wrote.

Gov. Sonny Perdue ordered all state employees to take three unpaid days by the end of 2009 because of revenue shortfall. He also told state agencies to cut their budgets by 5 percent.

All of Georgia’s 35 public colleges and universities submitted plans to the University System of Georgia to reduce current budgets by 4 percent, 6 percent and 8 percent. The Board of Regents is scheduled to tell college leaders which plan they must immediately implement during its regular meeting Wednesday morning.

Becker wrote he will hold at least one town hall meeting after the vote to explain what the budget cuts will mean for the college.