Parkland College To Begin Layoffs As A Result of Budget Standoff - JEFF BOSSERT, Peoria Public Radio

Parkland College in Champaign will begin layoffs next week as a result of the ongoing state budget standoff. In an e-mail to employees Thursday, Parkland President Tom Ramage said nine positions will be cut to make up another $567,000 in cuts made necessary by a lack of state funding. The layoffs - as yet unspecified - follow an initial round of staff reductions using a voluntary separation program. That’s expected to save just over $1 million. Ramage says the college hasn't had layoffs on this scale in at least 25 years. Ramage’s announcement comes after Parkland Trustees voted to raise tuition rates by more than 11 percent. http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/parkland-college-begin-layoffs-result-budget-standoff