Western Wyoming Community College will eliminate an additional nine positions, five currently filled, as the institution grapples with a growing budget shortfall now estimated at $5 million, according to a press release issued this week.
The cuts follow a previous round of layoffs announced in December 2025, impacting 63 positions, roughly 10% of the college’s workforce. Most of those initial reductions took effect this week, following a 90-day notice period, the Green River Star reported.
The college initially identified a $1.5 million budget gap, but refined revenue projections and finalized expenditure data revealed a significantly larger imbalance. “This updated figure reflects more precise calculations related to local property tax revenue projections, state funding levels, operational costs, and the full implementation of compensation adjustments,” Western Wyoming Community College stated in its press release.
Western officials reiterated that the college has been utilizing reserve funds to cover budget deficits, a practice deemed unsustainable for ongoing operational expenses. The college’s president, Kirk Young, discussed the initial layoffs during a community town hall meeting last December, citing the need for fair market compensation for employees as a contributing factor to the financial strain, according to the Green River Star.
The latest round of cuts comes after the college dissolved its Women’s Volleyball program in November 2025, a decision that prompted questions from the community regarding transparency and cost analysis, the Green River Star reported at the time. Concerns were also raised about the treatment of the coaching staff following the program’s elimination.
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