New Mexico university to lay-off staff, freeze vacant posts

New Mexico State University’s finalized budget will freeze over 90 vacant faculty and staff positions and lay off two personnel.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports university officials said Friday that the moves will close an $8 million gap in the institution’s budget.

Administrators say the personnel cuts are much smaller than originally anticipated in initial planning scenarios.

Chancellor Garrey Carruthers says the other positions will remain frozen until officials decide on a date to fill them.

The university’s permanent budget was reduced by 5 percent in 2016 after special session to address the state’s budget crisis and received further cuts after the 2017 regular and special legislative sessions.

The institution has also lost funding due to declining enrollment numbers.