Marshall University President Stephen Kopp told the school's employees Monday that he is preparing for a leaner budget next fiscal year, and there could be cuts this year.
Mid-year cuts could come if state revenues do not meet projections, Kopp said.
As with all state university and colleges along with most state agencies, Marshall officials were directed to prepare budgets for fiscal 2013-14 that include a 7.5 percent cut in state funding.
"This situation makes clear that we will be confronted with a significant budget challenge beginning in FY 2014, but until the Legislature passes the FY 2014 State budget during the 2013 session, we will not know the exact amount of our reduction. Today, it is important that you understand a reduction in state appropriations approximating this forecasted level will definitely require us to make considerable changes. We all need to prepare for that during the coming months," Kopp wrote in a notice to Marshall's employees.
He added, "Also, we have been informed that we cannot rule out a mid-year reduction in State appropriations for the current fiscal year. The likelihood of that happening will depend on the extent to which state revenue projections are met during the first half of the current fiscal year."
Matt Turner, chief of staff at Marshall, said Kopp wrote the letter in an attempt to manage expectations and prepare employees for whatever cuts may come.
"We're strong, but we need to be prepared for what's always possible," Turner said.
Nothing in the Marshall budget is untouchable, and no specific cuts have been decided, Turner said.
"We always look for efficiencies first," he said.
Marshall officials are asking employees for their input in the planning process for possible budget cuts, Turner said.
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