Though obviously pleased that Northwest College administrators have found ways to cut the college's 2009-10 budget by $835,000 without making layoffs, the NWC Board of Trustees is waiting to see if the second shoe falls. Gov. Dave Freudenthal in January called for state agencies, including the University of Wyoming and the state's community colleges, to begin preparing for budget reductions of 5 to 10 percent.

The burden of that wait is compounded by the uncertainty it creates.

While Northwest College President Paul Prestwich initially said he hoped a 5-percent cut would suffice, he told the board on Tuesday he now feels a cut of at least 10 percent is likely due to increasingly gloomy revenue projections for the state.

NWC Finance Director Sheldon Flom said a 10-percent cut would mean cutting an additional $600,000 from the college's budget.

“We're fortunate that reductions planned at this point don't include layoffs,” he said, adding that cuts identified so far would have minimal effect on students.

“We're in a solid financial position with a 5-percent cut,” he said. “With 10 percent, we have some work to do.

“My leadership committee and I will continue to meet to talk about how to get a 10-percent cut,” he said. “I think a significant amount of that would come from layoffs.”

Prestwich noted that 75 percent of the college's budget pays employee salary and benefits.

Board members wondered how a reduction in force would work, when final state numbers won't be available until sometime in June or July, and faculty contracts normally are completed and signed before then.

“Can't we get (the numbers) sooner?” asked Trustee Marty Coe. “If we make a reduction in force, teachers will need to be looking for jobs.”

Kim Mills, NWC vice president for administrative services, said Freudenthal is waiting on June revenue estimates before making a decision about the amount of the mandated budget cut.

“The governor realizes the situation we're being put in,” he said.

Trustee Carolyn Danko said she worries that some employees, fearing loss of their jobs in a budget cut, could leave the college to seek employment elsewhere.

Bob Krenz, NWC Faculty Organization president, summed up the situation: “After five bad years in a row, I thought we were due for a good one. It hasn't been bad so far, but I fear the next couple of months are going to be no fun.”