St. Cloud State Grapples With $9 Million Deficit

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) - St. Cloud State's president says the school is slowing hiring and reviewing spending as it deals with a $9 million budget deficit.

Reports say that President Earl Potter laid out the challenges in his convocation address Tuesday. Potter said the school anticipates an additional deficit in 2016.

He said the school has a soft hiring freeze in place and is filling only critical positions. There's also a 5 percent holdback on non-staff budgets.

St. Cloud State has an overall budget of about $200 million in fiscal year 2015. Potter says the school's budget health depends on how much money the Legislature grants the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System.

MnSCU has requested $142 million, and promised a tuition freeze if it gets it.