The presidents of the state's three public colleges and about 300 other non union employees of Rhode Island's higher education system will take a 1 percent annualized pay cut, in response to Governor Carcieri's call for all state departments to reduce expenses.
According to the latest estimate, the state is facing a $200 million deficit for the current fiscal year.
Higher education officials say they are still calculating how much money will be saved by this measure. The University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, the Community College of Rhode Island and the Office of Higher Education have been asked to cut $9.4 million this year, and the pay cuts will fall far short of that goal, perhaps only saving $150,000, said Steven J. Maurano, acting higher education commissioner.
The colleges will still have to achieve the remaining savings, likely through a combination of leaving vacant hundreds of positions and increasing tuition and fees, although officials say they have not yet determined their approach.