The board of directors for the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra announced late Friday afternoon it will move forward with its proposal to move core musicians to a per-service payment structure. Management is expected to begin offering contracts in the next two to three weeks, according to the symphony's lead negotiator and attorney, Bobby Gilliam.

Gilliam said the board's decision to move forward with the proposal came after the musicians rejected the board's final offer. "They basically rejected the offer with no counteroffer."

However, symphony musicians were unaware of the board's plans to move forward. "We have received no notice of the employers' intent to impose terms of employment," said Chan Teage, spokesman for the musicians.

The board's offer includes a 75 percent cut to core or full-time musicians, from $12,693 to $3,123 for the 2008-09 season. The proposal would also include the elimination of 24 full-time core positions as of Sept. 1.

The proposal has remained basically unchanged since negotiations began in August.

Board Chairwoman Margaret Elrod has maintained the symphony must move to such a payment structure to create financial stability.

"The symphony's recurring financial support is very much appreciated, but the operating costs have increased while overall revenue has not, requiring that the symphony move to the per-service structure so that musicians are paid for the time actually worked," Elrod says in a statement.