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SU Chancellor Kent Syverud at the 2015 Syracuse University and SUNY ESF commencement. Syracuse University is offering buyouts to staff to cut costs. Stephen D. Cannerelli | scannerelli@syracuse.com

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse University began offering buyouts this week, hoping

to encourage older staff to take a one-time lump sum payment to leave the

payroll for good.

The decision comes on the heels of an era where the university started each year off in the red, and had become fat with staff and managers, according to a report issued for the university by Bain and Company in 2014.

By 2014, the operating losses were $13 million. One of the main forces behind the increasing costs were staff salaries, according to the report. Salary costs grew faster than other operating costs, and it was growing not because of new hires, but because of raises and promotions.

From 2007 to 2013, staff salary costs went up nearly 25 percent. In 2007, the total was $164.98 million. By 2013, staff salaries cost $205.3 million, according to the report. The largest growth was among staff making more than $120,000.

In 2014, there were 211 managers who were managing just one person directly, according to the report.

The report noted that employees said there were too many decision makers, which often made decision making inefficient. The report suggested getting rid of some of the management layers for "quick and flexible decision making."

The Bain report also pointed out that the university had no strategic plan. For the past 10 months, the university has been working on a strategic plan, and shifting its focus to research and trying find places to cut costs. Recently, Chancellor Kent Syverud said that individual schools would be given five years to become financially self-sufficient.

Staff whose age and years of experience add up to 65 would be eligible for the buyout, which is one-time payment equal to half a year's salary. They have until Aug. 5 to decide. Anyone who is eligible will be allowed to take the buyout, according to the university.

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