Reduction in facilities design and construction staff

Western’s Facilities Management will be reducing the size of its Facilities Design and Construction Administration staff by eight employees in order to reflect the budget realities of next biennium’s revenue projections.

Tim Wynn, Facilities Management director, said that the current size of the FDCA staff is based on the expectation that Western will be executing a major capital design project every biennium. During the current biennium, the FDCA has not had a major design project. There also have been significant increases in personnel costs without any increase in the sources of revenue.

"It is with the deepest regret that I must notify you that we are forced to begin reducing the size of the Facilities Design and Construction Administration staff in order to reflect the budget realities of next biennium’s revenue projections," Wynn said in a letter to staff.

"Without any change, we estimate we will be more than $1 million in deficit by the end of the next biennium," Wynn said in the letter. "We cannot continue that course of action and must take appropriate reductions. It is also important to know that we have made the reduction decisions based on an 'optimistic' revenue expectation for next biennium. This expectation does include design funding for the renovation of Carver (gymnasium). Should Western not receive design funding for Carver, further reductions will probably be necessary."

The reduction in staff affects eight FDCA employees. Wynn said that Human Resources will be working with each Western employee to help with his or her transition.

Wynn said that the decision is driven by budget realities and in no way reflects on the quality of work of affected personnel.