ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.-Acting NCUA Chairman Dennis Dollar told a group of agency managers last week that he would strive for a minimum 4% reduction in NCUA staffing. As autumn draws near, it's once again time for NCUA to consider its budget, which could be considerably affected by the move. Earlier this summer, Dollar introduced an internal group he pieced together called AIM, or Accountability in Management, to focus on how to increase the agency's efficiency. The group's recommendations will be taken into consideration when the board makes its final budget decisions for fiscal year 2002. Dollar told attendees of the NCUA management conference that he plans to accomplish the staff reductions without layoffs, but by eliminating existing positions that are vacant. However, to Special Assistant to the Acting Chairman for Public Affairs Nick Owens said that Dollar and the agency have not completely ruled out layoffs. The process is expected to occur over the 2002 and 2003 budget periods. Dollar also noted other budget cutting initiatives like the risk-based examination schedule passed at the agency's July board meeting.