ARCATA -- Humboldt State University, already planning for budget cuts of $8.1 million, may now need to cut an additional $1.4 million from its budget.

The state Legislature is debating additional cuts to the California State University system that might reach $70 million or more, in addition to the $260.7 million reduction proposed in the governor's budget. These cuts take into account a proposed additional fee increase for students of 30 percent.

HSU's total cuts for the new fiscal year, which begins July 1, could come to at least $9.5 million. The university announced $8.1 million in cuts in mid-May to comply with Gov. Gray Davis' deficit reduction plan.

University officials said HSU is trying to plan with these numbers in mind, but could not immediately give specifics. Community Relations Director Elizabeth Hans McCrone said the university is required to notify the CSU Chancellor's office as well as employee unions before reducing jobs. Until then, she said, the university can't publicly discuss such decisions.

"Since we do not expect to have a final budget from the governor and the Legislature until later this summer at the earliest, we are making tentative additional budget reductions and will use them if needed when the final CSU budget is determined," said HSU President Rollin Richmond in a press release. "We're trying to anticipate as many eventualities as possible, while getting the message out to the public that these cuts will substantially damage not only the university, but also the regional economy. If cuts of this magnitude are enacted, they will ramify through every level of the North Coast economy, affecting lots of other people, not just students."

The university's budget will shrink by 13.7 percent if the school has to cut $9.5 million instead of $8.1 million. The lower figure would represent an 11.8 percent drop.

"We are taking the 13.7 percent cutback in the hope that we may be able to restore some of it, if the Legislature acts favorably," Richmond said.

Even if cuts were held to the original $8.1 million, university officials say every major program and service, from academic affairs and athletics to support services and class size, would be seriously affected.