Budget Cuts

The layoffs would not include faculty members.

To help offset most of the cut, lawmakers passed legislation increasing hunting, fishing, trapping and watercraft registration licenses and fees.

Representative Charles Pelkey, Representative-elect Dan Furphy and Senator-elect Glenn Moniz answered questions and discussed the future of Wyoming education, possible revenue sources and budget cuts.

Massie said that the trustees wanted to touch base with the student, faculty and staff senates before the Board puts it to a vote.

In addition to the eliminations, the recommendations also include proposals to consolidate or reconfigure several academic units.

Nichols says the future of the university depends on increasing its enrollment and reviewing its tuition and fees, which she said are among the lowest in the nation.

Governor Mead says adding taxes to things like wind and groceries to make up for the state's revenue shortfall will "put the entire state into an economic death spiral."

Governor Mead says while "there is a possibility" the Legislature will have to make more budget cuts when it convenes in January, he's "most hopeful those cuts will not be made."

The process is set to begin Sept. 23, with the Board of Trustees reviewing and approving the final plan in May.

The division suggests citizens concerned about a nuisance cat or a cat at large may trap the cat themselves and take the cat to the Laramie Animal Shelter. But the division will no longer loan out cat traps.