UPDATE: 112 people have accepted voluntary incentive programs

Feb. 18 update

Voluntary incentive programs have solidified and 112 people have accepted, totaling $8,446,431 in base salaries, Jodi Walker director of communications, said.

Out of the 112 people, 36 of them accepted the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program (VSIP) which totaled $2,590,536 in base salaries. For the Optional Retirement Incentive Program (ORIP) 76 people have accepted which totaled $5,855,895 in base salaries.

Those who take the VSIP program will receive a one-time payment of 33% of their current salary in Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21)

While the ORIP retirement plan will pay those who have accepted 20% of their current salary for three years starting in FY21. The University of Idaho originally stated they would offer five years, Walker said.

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Feb. 14 update

On Thursday’s State Board of Education Meeting, President C. Scott Green, said that approximately 100 people have accepted voluntary incentive programs.  

Green added these positions represent $8.7 million worth of salary and benefits. But some of the positions will need to be refilled.  

Jodi Walker, director of communications, said these numbers are not yet final. Walker said the final numbers for the voluntary incentive programs will be known Tuesday.  

The University of Idaho is looking at other options to reduce the budget deficit such as program prioritization, outsourcing, contract non-renewals and more.  

Green said in roughly six weeks they will have a decision on the contracts.    

“There’s a lot of anxiety on campus and on our community about (contract non-renewals) — about not knowing,” Green said during the State Board meeting. “So, we are trying to move as quickly as we can to get those plans in place.”   

The Argonaut will continue to update this story as more information becomes available. 

Alex Brizee can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @alex_brizee