NAU President John Haeger again discussed the university's budget situation Wednesday afternoon with hundreds of employees and students, saying every university department would likely be affected.

He raised the possibility of cuts in health care benefits, petitioning the Legislature to increase taxes for education, cuts in new academic programs, employee buyouts and requiring unpaid time off.

But he gave few specifics and said nothing was decided.

A firm hiring freeze was also likely, he said, with some departments being less able to carry out their missions due to attrition.

"I think the budget case is so dramatic that there will be furloughs and layoffs, if we decide to do furloughs," he said.

But individuals asking questions had little success in pinning Haeger down on which programs might be cut next, such as in this exchange on the $18.5 million to possibly be cut by June 30 of this year:

Q: "Do you have a plan for dealing with that?"

Haeger: "Yes."

Q: "Can we hear it?"

Haeger: "There is a way to get to that number, 18.5 (million). We will, though, use up most of our one-time moneys."

Another question about whether Northern Arizona University workers who lose their jobs will be given priority in later rehiring, or extended benefits, went unanswered.

Haeger has not decided whether to pursue unpaid time off for employees, he said.

A student attacked the president for the decision to close the NAU Center for High Altitude Training.

"You dropped the high altitude training center for $250,000, a quarter of a million," he said, calling it a loss of an institution that was largely self-funding and brought income to Flagstaff.

Haeger called on other staff to explain the decision, saying a center director that the university hoped to recruit called for $3 million in investment to make the center better, and it was an amount the university could not afford. The university had found it difficult to recruit a director, Haeger said.

Another person asked a question regarding what program cuts and layoffs could be expected for the fiscal year that begins in July.

Haeger responded that there would be a firm hiring freeze, that there would likely be some services lost on campus, and that programs could be "mothballed."

"You don't necessarily have to cut programs. You can mothball programs and bring 'em back later on," he said.

Haeger warned that there was also a national backlash against high and increasing prices for higher education.

Others proposed, as did Haeger, that services not key to education be cut first. One employee asked whether well-known departments or institutes would be cut first to generate shock value and headlines.

Haeger said no.

An instructor said the university should call unpaid leave a pay cut, as the instructors will still likely need to arrive and teach class whether paid or not.

NAU Faculty Senate President Rich Lei called the questions and answers "a good, honest exchange."

A professor who teaches advertising, Lei said he is expecting larger class sizes and continued discussion with Haeger.

"There're so many unknowns now that we have to be as flexible as we can be," he said.

Cyndy Cole can be reached at 913-8607 or at ccole@azdailysun.com.

Finding $18.5 million by June 30

NAU is facing a budget cut estimated at $18.5 million in state funding for the remainder of this fiscal year, but that number is tentative at best.

That would be a cut of 11.4 percent of the funds the state gives the university in a year, with more than half already spent.

Further complicating matters, about one-third of the university's budget is restricted for certain uses, such as research grants or private gifts, and could not be cut to meet the state's budget shortfall.

Financial uncertainty is expected through 2012, and more budget cuts are expected in the next fiscal year.

Budget options in three tiers

Ideas on how to respond to budget cuts vary with the size of the proposed cut. At this point, $18.5 million is the possible number.

If NAU sees a $7.6 million cut in state funds to be enacted by this summer, the following are possibilities, according to a written proposal from NAU President John Haeger:

— Severe reductions in travel, equipment, and abandoned planned purchases, publications, and capital projects

— Eliminate dorm computer labs

— Reductions in intercollegiate athletics

— Closure and reductions of centers and institutes

— Faculty positions no longer offer tenure

— Mid-year raises postponed

— Health benefits are cut

— Non-teaching positions are eliminated

— Fewer courses are offered and class sizes grow

If NAU sees a $15.3 million cut in state funds, all of the options just mentioned are possibilities, along with the following:

— Campus programs used by the community are closed, or fees are added to make them self-supporting.

— Services at rural campuses cut

— Most positions are left vacant when employees leave

— Tuition fees increase

— Distance learning sites close

— Stop planning for new health programs, such as occupational therapy

— Employees take unpaid time off

If NAU sees a $22.9 million cut in state funds, all of the options already mentioned are possibilities, along with the following:

— Student programs like health, counseling and recreation could become self-supporting or end