UMass Chief Says $11 Million In Budget Cuts Needed

BOSTON (CBS/AP) — University of Massachusetts president Martin Meehan says the five-campus system needs to cut nearly $11 million from its budget after the Legislature declined to fund pay increases for faculty and staff.

Meehan said he was disappointed that lawmakers did not include the funding in a $328 million spending bill sent to Gov. Charlie Baker's desk on Wednesday. The money was in an earlier House version of the bill but was removed by the Senate.

Meehan had asked the Legislature in July for the money, saying it was needed for collectively-bargained salary increases.

It was not immediately clear how the cuts would affect the university.

"It's very difficult to cut money in the middle of the academic year," Meehan told WBZ NewsRadio 1030. "The Amherst campus is the flagship, it's the largest, it will likely take the biggest hit."

Meehan is expected to discuss the matter with the chancellors of the five campuses during a meeting next week.

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