ST. CLOUD, Minn. — St. Cloud State's president says the school is slowing hiring and reviewing spending as it deals with a $9 million budget deficit.

The St. Cloud Times reports (http://on.sctimes.com/1IqWZMx ) that President Earl Potter laid out the challenges in his convocation address Tuesday. Potter said the school anticipates an additional deficit in 2016.

He said the school has a soft hiring freeze in place and is filling only critical positions. There's also a 5 percent holdback on non-staff budgets.

St. Cloud State has an overall budget of about $200 million in fiscal year 2015. Potter says the school's budget health depends on how much money the Legislature grants the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System.

MnSCU has requested $142 million, and promised a tuition freeze if it gets it.