Budget woes dominate main concerns, layoffs looming - MIMI ENSLEY, University of Georgia Red & Black Finances, fees and furloughs dominated conversa

Finances, fees and furloughs dominated conversations across the University this year as budget cuts became steeper and state money became tighter. At last week's media briefing, University President Michael Adams told the University community that employees could be notified as early as January about possible layoffs. "With any additional significant cuts, we would have to downsize the payroll beyond the some 500 positions that we've already done," Adams said at the briefing. "There's not many other places now left to go." But Adams's announcement comes after a long year of budgetary woes.