Budget
update
February
6, 2003
A message from the President
Today the University of North Texas System submitted to the Governor
and Texas Legislature the university's
plan to reduce by 7 percent general revenue received from the state for the current fiscal year.
The
state has given UNT, and other institutions of higher education,
some latitude in determining the most practical and least damaging
ways of implementing a reduction of our previously budgeted state
revenues. Still, identifying $6,590,104 in cutbacks — our
university's share of revenue that must to be returned to the state
— wasn't easy.
In
paring down our budgets, we've attempted to minimize, wherever possible,
the impact on our students and our current employees. To meet our
obligations, here's where we plan to tighten our belts:
- Virtually
every education and general unit on campus will cut
its FY 2002-03
operating budgets by 1.14 percent.
- The
hiring freeze set in place January 28 will remain in effect for
faculty and staff. Only critical positions will be filled, and
then only when funds are identified to cover the costs.
- We
will achieve some additional efficiencies in our utility expenditures
by resetting our thermostats — our buildings will be a bit
cooler this winter and warmer this summer.
- Funding
will be reduced for student recruitment marketing and advertising.
- We
will forfeit certain tuition revenues achieved through our recent
enrollment growth.
- We
will forgo some land procurement. We also will forgo some construction
projects, excepting those that are self-funding or don't require
state funds.
- Some
equipment purchases will have to be delayed.
- And,
we will reduce the number of low-enrollment summer session classes,
while increasing our maximum summer class size.
This
plan still has to be reviewed and accepted by the Governor's office.
Nevertheless, we need to immediately implement it. It's important
to keep in mind that these cutbacks address only the remaining seven
months of this fiscal year. Our plan does not address future projected
state revenue shortfalls of $9.9 billion, which will be addressed
by the legislature as it crafts the budget for the next biennium.
I can't predict the outcomes for higher education, but I imagine
that our university, and the state's other institutions of higher
education, will face financial challenges in the foreseeable future.
We will likely continue our belt tightening, but I do not anticipate
as being necessary a reduction in currently employed faculty and
staff.
In
spite of our challenges, we must all work together to continue to
provide our students a high quality education and the best possible
services. I will continue to provide you updates on the steps we
will take to advance our university.
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Related links
January
24, 2003 message
January
28, 2003 message
April
22, 2003 message
August
15, 2003 message |
