Bates Technical College employees will take three furlough days and the college will close from Dec. 23-Jan 4. All four union groups and non-represented staff agreed to the furloughs to help offset the 6.3% budget reduction mandated by the Governor’s office in October for the current fiscal year (July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011).
College employees will take a combination of three furlough days and vacation during the four previously scheduled work days. Classes were already scheduled for a holiday break during this timeframe and will not be affected by the closure. The college estimates that the reduction in salaries from the furloughs combined with the reduced cost of utilities during the 12 day closure will save at least $275,000.
“Demand to the community and technical college system continues to out-pace availability of resources. We are having to take swift action to help save money while still trying to provide quality educational opportunities for students,” said Lyle Quasim, president of Bates Technical College. “These furlough days will help get Bates through the current budget year, particularly as we plan for even deeper cuts anticipated to come in the 2011-2013 biennium.”
Since 2008, the college has cut $3,648,753 from its budget and still needs to cut at least an additional $500,000 before June 30, 2011.