RIVERTON (WNE) — Central Wyoming College president Brad Tyndall received the authority Wednesday to initiate staff layoffs if “significant” funding cuts are implemented this year at the state level.

Tyndall said he believed the staff “reduction in force” will be inevitable.

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon has asked government agencies throughout the state to prepare budget proposals showing 10% to 20% reductions in state funding.

“He has not pulled the trigger, but he said, ‘I want to see what your 10% and 20% cut is,’” Tyndall told the CWC Board of Trustees during their regular meeting Wednesday.

Given that the bulk of CWC’s expenses — 78% — is allocated to personnel, there is “no way” such cuts could be made without layoffs, the president said.

The college employs about 250 people.

And, Tyndall added, the governor could ask state agencies to implement the funding reductions at any point.

“It could be next week,” he said.

Tyndall referred to college policy documents that state he must receive board approval before initiating reductions in force — an action that may be necessary in order to comply with another policy, which states he must present the board with a fiscal year budget that does not allow expenses to exceed available resources. Under board policy, the specific personnel reductions would be determined by Tyndall himself, not the trustees.