OTC freezes positions, authorizes early retirements

In response to state budget cuts, Ozarks Technical Community College froze several jobs and implemented a voluntary retirement program.

Spokesman Mark Miller said 23 people eligible for an early retirement will have retired by June 30. Another nine positions that were open due to natural attrition have been closed. Of those 32 combined positions, 19 have been temporarily frozen but may be filled in the future depending on state funding. The moves were first reported by the Springfield News-Leader.

“I cannot emphasize enough that there were no layoffs,” Miller said via email.

The freeze of positions is saving OTC roughly $1 million. With the early retirements, the school’s full-time employee count is now 541, down from 560.

The actions come in response to a $1.2 million cut by Gov. Eric Greitens in the current fiscal year and $1.4 million in proposed reductions in his fiscal 2018 budget, Miller said.

Additionally, OTC is considering a tuition increase for the 2017-18 academic year of $6-$10 per credit hour. The OTC Board of Trustees is expected to set the rates at its April meeting, Miller said. In-district students currently pay $98 per credit hour.

Missouri State University, which had $6.3 million of its state funding withheld earlier this year, also is considering tuition increases, as well as layoffs, according to President Clif Smart.