Eastern programs on budget chopping block

CHENEY – Eastern Washington University Interim President David May is recommending several programs be eliminated going into the 2021-23 biennium.

The recommendations stem from a state Office of Financial Management projection of a decline of 15% in state funding in the next budget cycle.

The revenue drop comes from declining enrollment and the effects of the mandated coronavirus shutdowns mandated after the governor declared an emergency Feb. 29, 2020.

The current university operating budget for the 2019-21 biennium is approximately $564.7 million.

In a report released last week, May called f...