Sunny Eappen, president and CEO of the University of Vermont Health Network, speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony to announce a second investment in new housing in South Burlington on Dec. 15, 2022. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

The University of Vermont Health Network announced Tuesday it will cut 77 positions, including 68 staff roles and nine leadership roles, as part of its plan to reduce expenses for the coming fiscal year.

The health network — which comprises six hospitals in Vermont and northern New York — will also not fill 69 current vacancies in the network following Tuesday’s announcement. The network chose not to fill 120 vacant positions last year, and several hundred more positions were phased out this year.

The announced staffing cuts, which amount to over $5 million in spending reductions, come a week ahead of hospital budget hearings overseen by the Green Mountain Care Board, which is tasked with reviewing budgets for the upcoming fiscal year at all 14 of the state’s non-federal hospitals.

The cuts are largely to positions not involved in direct patient care, specifically in the networkwide finance, human resources and information technology teams.

Along with layoffs, the health network is aiming to reduce spending through deferring capital projects, increasing efficiencies in clinical care and administrative work, reducing traveling and temporary workers in favor of permanent staff, eliminating performance-based bonuses for administrative leaders, and consolidating real estate.

The plans set forth Tuesday represent approximately $185 million in expense reductions, according to the network.

This story will be updated.