Winona State hosts budget forum to discuss solutions, ramifications - Maddie Swenson, Winonan

The budget deficit first reported during October 2016 by the Winona State University Student Senate has risen to $4 million, according to the university’s Vice President of Finance and Administration Scott Ellinghuysen at a budget forum on Thursday, Feb. 16. The deficit was originally reported to be between $2 to $3 million, according to the Student Senate in October, but the increased deficit could result in employee layoffs, according to Ellinghuysen, which he said has not happened in at least 10 years. Winona State’s Human Resources was not immediately available to comment on possible layoffs and the how long it has been since they last happened. This deficit is set to continue into the fiscal year 2018, which begins in July, Ellinghuysen said, but he added hopefully the deficit will decrease to around $3 million by the time school starts again the fall of 2017. http://thewinonan.winonastateu.com/layoffs-possible-as-budget-deficit-increases/