UW braces for 600 layoffs; deeper state cuts could mean 800 lost jobs - Nick Perry, Seattle Times

The University of Washington says it will need to cut 600 jobs under the budget proposed by Gov. Chris Gregoire — a number that could rise to 800 if lawmakers make deeper cuts. Responding to a request for information from two state senators, UW President Mark Emmert wrote in a letter that such cuts would have a "significant impact on the university's ability to provide high-quality educational opportunities for our state's citizens and on our long-standing capacity to create jobs and fuel economic growth." Sens. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, and Rodney Tom, D-Medina, asked the UW to consider two scenarios — Gregoire's proposed 13 percent cut in state funding and a larger, 20 percent cut. With the economy continuing to deteriorate, lawmakers are bracing for deeper cuts than those proposed by Gregoire. State lawmakers are facing a budget deficit that could top $6 billion over the next two years.