UAF athletic department cuts contracts

FAIRBANKS - Athletic Director Forrest Karr says three-fourths of the University of Alaska Fairbanks athletic department will work on shortened contracts to help balance the budget.

The 11-month deals will shave roughly $400,000 in expenses. The cuts are needed to offset rising fixed costs within the roughly $7 million budget.

Karr says the "big three" expenses - labor, travel and scholarships - are projected to rise by about 4 percent next year, but revenues are not expected to keep pace.