AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — University of Maine System Chancellor Richard Pattenaude says the seven-campus system has made great strides in cutting back expenses in order to avoid a $43 million deficit.
In his annual State of the University address Wednesday to the Maine Legislature, Pattenaude said that like many businesses, the system has trimmed its workforce, and now has 7 percent fewer employees. It also finished last year with expenditures $5 million below the previous year, and slashed the unfunded liability for its retiree health care.
Those and other changes came since trustees adopted a multi-year austerity plan called New Challenges, New Directions in November 2009.
Maine Community College System President John Fitzsimmons and Maine Maritime Academy President William Brennan also addressed a joint House-Senate session Wednesday.
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