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U of Nebraska freezes hiring as state shortfall looms

university-of-nebraskaLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska president has ordered a hiring freeze and travel restrictions as the system prepares for fallout from a nearly $1 billion budget gap forecast for state government.

The Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board predicted last month that state tax revenue will fall $910 million below estimated expenses through the end of the next two-year budget period.

President Hank Bounds said in a Monday email to university employees that he expects more cutbacks are ahead because reducing hiring and travel will not save enough money for the system to weather the looming budget storms.

Lawmakers will begin crafting a 2017-18 and 2018-19 state budget in January.

The system has two campuses in Omaha, one in Lincoln and one in Kearney.

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