WASHINGTON (AP) — The University of the District of Columbia wants $4 million from the city to help it pay for the severance packages of dozens of professors and staff members it wants to lay off.

The city’s only public university released a plan in October that would cut 25 faculty and staff members and eliminate seven departments and two dozen majors. The school has already eliminated 30 positions. School officials say that it is expensive to eliminate positions because of a strong union presence.

A spokesman says the university expected the city to pay for the severance packages because it was the city that mandated the school make the cuts.

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray says he is reluctant to give the university the money.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)