By KALEY CONNER

kconner@dailynews.net

Fort Hays State University will absorb an additional 2-percent cut in state funding with about $678,000 in one-time strategic planning money, President Edward H. Hammond announced this morning on the university campus.

Gov. Mark Parkinson announced another $160 million in adjustments in the state budget Thursday, bringing FHSU's total budget down 14 percent from last year.

"By using funds that were budgeted for strategic planning ... the university again will postpone some of our equipment purchases, our innovations and our new initiatives," Hammond said, noting further cuts in departmental operating budgets will be avoided.

This year's level of state funding for Regents universities is comparable to the amount of money allocated in 2006, Hammond said.

Despite today being a state holiday, FHSU organized a press conference this morning to explain how the university would deal with the latest round of bad news from Topeka.

As of today, the latest action has balanced the state budget.

But Hammond warned the university's funds cannot be cut more than 15 percent without significantly altering the way the university does business.

"I need to point out ... that I don't believe we can absorb further cuts to our budget without a significant harm to our education, our ability to provide education and services to the people of Kansas," he said. "I think we've done just about all we can do."

To help mitigate the significant drop in funding levels, the university reduced the number of on-campus summer school classes and switched to a four-day summer work week to offset utility costs. Early numbers suggest June electricity use is down more than 27 percent when compared to other years.

Staff positions also were eliminated, but no employees have been terminated, Hammond said. The university was on schedule to begin letting employees go, but other staff members voluntarily retired.

That made it possible for administration to reach its goal of $1.5 million in cuts without firing current employees, though some positions were altered.

Strategic growth has been another significant part of the university's goal to increase revenue. Even with an increased number of online classes, summer enrollment is up about 80 credit hours from last year.

"The bottom line is that we are serving more Kansans and more students, and providing a high-quality education even in this difficult economic time," Hammond said.