One month after announcing plans were in the works to cut the budget, Black Hawk College has made some decisions. Wednesday it announced a reduction of 5 faculty and 10 staff positions.
College president Bettie Truitt blames the state of Illinois - Black Hawk relies on the state for about 22 per cent of its revenue, and because of the long budget impasse between the governor and general assembly, it's received no money since July.
Truitt will also ask the board of trustees to approve a voluntary termination incentive, and for permission to withdraw support for several business programs, including the Illinois Small Business Development Center and the International Trade Center.
Currently, Black Hawk employs 680 full and part-time workers, with their salaries and benefits adding up to about 75 per cent of its operating budget.
If the budget impasse goes on much longer, Truitt says, "a second phase of budget reductions will be needed."
