As a result of the recent reductions to the NOAO budget, the increased costs in Chile associated with the strength of the peso against the dollar combined with inflation in Chile, cuts of order US$ 300K in purchasing power were made on the non-payroll side of CTIO in FY1994 and FY1995. Involuntary staff cuts were postponed in the hope of eventually receiving improved support from the NSF. That support has not materialized, so, after careful discussions within NOAO and AURA and presentations to the NSF seeking some relief, the decision was taken in March to implement a formal Reduction in Force (RIF) involving 17 employees (the loss of 16.5 Full-time Equivalent positions). With that action, CTIO completes a program of staff reductions totaling 30 FTEs, i.e. just over 20% since 1993. According to current NOAO projections, we are not expecting any further losses of staff positions at CTIO prior to the start of Gemini operations.
We will of course try to minimize, as always, the direct impact felt by our users. Most of the latest cuts fell in the areas of administration and daytime operations; the two divisions covering these areas have been merged. Please bear in mind, however, that in 1993, we had 145.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions at CTIO. We now have 115.5. Note that Tololo had 112 FTE in 1973, 130 in FY1974 and had not been below 133 until last month; the 4-m was commissioned in 1975. This amount of belt-tightening is unfortunately bound to affect our ability to deliver. We have already mothballed the Lowell telescope and regret that we will have to do the same to the Yale 1-m at the end of January 1997--see the separate notes in this Newsletter and the AURA statement on the Web (http://www.aura.noao.edu/aura/forum/).
These are statistics. Tololo users know the faces--the people. Some have given loyal service to the observatory for 30 years or more--essentially a lifetime. Others have to face very difficult personal circumstances. I cannot hide the fact that this has been a very painful experience for all of us at CTIO. Those who have left us know they have our heartfelt gratitude, but I want to acknowledge that gratitude publicly.
Malcolm Smith