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| Budget limbo still unfavorable
for ASU |
Carrie Baker
Business Affairs Beat |
The state legislature’s
budget “will not be a very favorable budget for UNC,”
Chancellor Francis T. Borkowski said Thursday.
Borkowski said due to poor state revenues, Governor Mike Easley’s
proposed budget could see further cuts.
Currently Easley’s budget slashes Appalachian State University’s
proposed budget increases by 60.12 percent, leaving the university
with $1,080,894 in recommended increases.
“It’s a hard time right now,” Borkowski said.
Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs Jane P. Helm said Tuesday the
increases would go toward enrollment growth needs. This money will
go toward faculty salaries, the library and “all other,”
Helm said.
Helm said monies in the “all other” area were used last
year for staff salary increases.
Budget Office Director Betsy Payne said Wednesday that Appalachian
creates a base or continuation budget every two years. Appalachian’s
proposed budget was created September 2002, Payne said.
Payne said the governor’s budget is usually a higher number
than the final budget approved by the N.C. House and Senate.
“The legislature has its hands on it right now,” Payne
said.
Even with the higher numbers, Borkowski said the governor’s
proposed budget with a 3 percent reduction is not sufficient. There
may be a 5 percent increase in tuition and an overall cut in the
budget from the house, Borkowski said.
“We would prefer living with the governor’s budget,”
Borkowski said.
According to remarks made by University of North Carolina Board
of Governors Vice President for Finance Jeffrey R. Davies during
a Joint Education Appropriations Subcommittee meeting March 26,
UNC system universities will suffer a $371 million reduction over
the next three years under Easley’s proposed 3 percent cut.
Davies said further or “level two” cuts could result in
the loss of an estimated 650 faculty positions, a number that could
“abolish” the entire faculty of UNC Wilmington.
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Harvey R. Durham said Thursday
that he also hopes to stay at the 3 percent cut.
“If the budget cut could stay in the 3 percent range, that
would be great,” Durham said.
Durham said keeping a cut in that range does not look promising
considering current state revenue and growth, and he expects to
see cuts in academic areas.
“Any cut we get is going to cut into academics,” Durham
said.
Helm said she is prepared for possible cuts next academic year.
“I’m prepared but hopeful it won’t happen,”
Helm said. “We’re really waiting for the General Assembly
to act before we will know for certain the extent of the cuts.”
Borkowski said the most immediate cut will be a 1.7-2.5 percent
reduction to start now and run through June 30.
Borkowski said the summer cut will mean no new equipment or supplies
will be purchased this summer, travel budgets will be cut drastically
and summer and fall part-time positions will not be rehired.
“We will be able to make the payroll, but that’s about
all,” Borkowski said.
Borkowski said he is particularly concerned with the 60 percent
cut of facility operations in the governor’s proposed budget.
This cut will mean no new staff can be hired for new buildings such
as the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts set to open in May, Borkowski
said.
“I don’t know where we’re going to get the money
to staff [the Turchin Center],” Borkowski said.
Cutbacks for next year are very likely, but it is too early to guess
where these cuts will be taken, Borkowski said.
Borkowski said he will continue to strive to protect the academic
quality at Appalachian State and remains optimistic that Appalachian
will survive the state’s economic suffering.
“I’m very heartened by the work ethic and attitude of
everyone,” Borkowski said. |
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