yranaivo@journalnet.com

POCATELLO - Idaho State University President Arthur Vailas said Wednesday personnel at his institution will be affected by additional state budget cuts announced by Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter.

On Tuesday, Otter's office asked state agencies to prepare to cut another $169 million from their fiscal year 2010 budget.

Vailas didn't specify how personnel will be affected, but he said he now doubts recent efficiencies ISU has found to weather previously announced 4 percent holdbacks will be sufficient next year.

"It's too premature at this point," he said. "There will be an impact, but how much of an impact it's going to be, we don't know. This level of reduction will impact personnel."

During the announcement, Otter's office asked state departments to choose programs that could be trimmed next year.

Vailas said he will bring up Otter's 2010 spending plans during the next open forum with faculty.

"To even talk about program reduction is premature," he said. "We have to look and see what the impact is going to be on personnel. We'll be working very hard over the holidays."

Even before the Tuesday announcement, state agencies were forced to cut $130 million in spending this year.

ISU covered its spending cuts with a one-time state fund initially budgeted for purchasing equipment such as new computers. The state appropriated a total of $77.3 million for ISU this year, and the holdbacks removed nearly $3 million from the university's budget.

Otter also previously told state agencies to reserve another 2 percent in case the economy worsens. ISU reserved $1.4 million, which will be taken from what it receives from the state.

ISU announced a number of cost-cutting plans last month. One new measure to save money is an "increased scrutiny" plan that requires ISU departments to submit more thorough reviews of their spending plans before drawing funds.

There is now also increased scrutiny on the filling of vacant positions. There are typically about 70 open positions at ISU during any given month.

As part of the scrutiny plan, ISU also drew out spending scenarios anticipating a 5 percent or 7.5 percent holdback.