Georgia Northwestern Technical College is planning three more furlough days this year, following four in the first half of 2009. Permanent budget cuts of 9.5 percent previously forced days off without pay in January, March and April.

According to Amber Jordan, director of marketing and public relations at the college, the dates that the college will be closed fall on in-service days for students on Sept. 25, Nov. 25 and Dec. 31. The campuses in Floyd, Polk, Gordon and Walker counties will all be closed on those days.

Craig McDaniel, president of the college, said that the three furlough days will save a total of $193,941. He said the three days off were mandated, but the college was able to choose the dates that furloughs were taken.

“Our goal is not to have to put people on the street,” McDaniel said. “When we had positions become available at the college, we haven’t filled them to help keep costs down. We’ve impacted personnel in that way, but we haven’t had to put anyone on the street yet.”

McDaniel is expecting additional cuts to the budget, but does not yet know how much.

Further budget cuts, he said, could bring more furlough days before the end of June 2010. The college is planning for three different levels of cuts from their operating budget at 4 percent, 6 percent and 8 percent.

A 4 percent cut would take $612,332 from the overall operating budget of the college, but would not require additional furlough days to be taken. McDaniel said a 6 percent cut would take $918,498 out of operating funds but also wouldn’t require any additional furlough days to be taken.

“An 8 percent cut would cost us $1,224,664,” McDaniel said.

McDaniel said four additional furlough days would be required if an 8 percent cut is mandated. It would save the college $452,529.